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How much money was spent on travel of Council of Ministers in the Modi government including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi this year?
The cat is out of the bag as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented Union Budget for 2016-17 today in Lok Sabha. Though no hard copy of the Budget papers was available for ready reference to mediamen, digital scanning of budget papers revealed the government spent a whopping ` 566.66 crores during 2015-16.
This is ` 300 crores more than what was allocated in the Budget. The Finance Minister had provided for ` 269 crores for 2015-16. But actual amount spent during the current financial year touched an astronomical figure of ` 566.66 crores.
Though the salaries of the ministers, allowances and the Prime Minister's Office have been kept in check during the two years of the Modi government as reflected in the table, it's the traveling expenses that set a record of sort. But traveling expenses broke all records.
Interestingly, the annual expenses towards the salaries and allowances & other expenses of the Modi government ministers and PMO touched ` 707.83 crores this year. The UPA-II during its five year stint spent ` 1500 crores on travel expenses of its ministers including the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister rather has been very tough with his ministers on their foreign travel and other expenses and imposed several restrictions.
Ever since the economic constraint emerged in the economy in 2010, the first class travel for ministers was discontinued. There was also a cut on foreign delegations of Union council of ministers and for organising conferences in 5-star hotels.This travel bill includes expenditure on travel by cabinet ministers, ministers of state and ex-PMs and maintenance of VVIP aircraft including the President and Vice President.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has traveled extensively in his first year in office, logging more flying miles than his ministers and predecessors. lInterestingly, the annual expenses towards the salaries and allowances & other expenses of the Modi government ministers and PMO touched Rs. 707.83 crores this year.
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