Indebted Punjab to splurge Rs1B on luxury cars

chandigarh — At a time when the debt-ridden Punjab government is unable to pay salaries and pensions to its serving and former employees, or allocate funds for subsidies and social welfare schemes on time, it is all set for a nearly Rs1 billion luxury ride.

The Congress government in the state led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, which harped a lot last year on shunning VIP culture and wasteful expenditure after it came to power, is all set to splurge on buying 434 new luxury cars for the Chief Minister, ministers, legislators, top officers and a few other functionaries. The Punjab government is under an ever-mounting debt of over Rs2 trillion.

Amarinder Singh, who is otherwise well-known for flying in the state government helicopter and aircraft within the state and to New Delhi and other places, will get 16 brand new bullet proof Toyota Land Cruiser luxury SUVs in his fleet. The Chief Minister enjoys Z-plus category security cover. “Each of these vehicles will cost over Rs17 million with the bullet-proofing and other works inside,” a senior officer said.

The new purchases are being justified in official files by pointing out that the earlier vehicles have outlived their utility or have run the maximum permissible mileage under state government rules. The 17 cabinet ministers will get Toyota Fortuners. Nearly 100 Toyota Crysta MPVs are being bought for the legislators in the 117-member assembly (the remaining legislators are ministers and government functionaries and are entitled to better vehicles).

These include over 30 opposition legislators too. Each MPV is priced between Rs2-2.4 million.

For the chosen ones, in the days to come, the ride is all set to get more luxurious and comfortable. —