Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s world tour to 84 countries since 2014 has cost India a humongous amount of Rs 1,484 crore. It was reportedly spent on his chartered flights, maintenance of aircraft and hotline facilities, according to the government.
PM Modi’s foreign travel expenditure details have been shared under the three heads in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh.
The data indicates that Prime Minister’s aircraft’s maintenance added up to a total of Rs 1,088.42 crore and Rs 387.26 crore was spent on chartered flights during the period between June 15, 2014 and June 10, 2018 while the total hotline expenditure was reportedly 9.12 crore.
84 countries in 42 foreign trips were undertaken by Modi since he took over as Prime Minister in May 2014.
VK Singh did provide details about the expenditure on hotline facilities during his foreign visits in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The cost of chartered flights for visits in 2018-19 was also not included.
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According to VK Singh’s reply, the Prime Minister visited a maximum of 24 countries in 2015-16 followed by 19 in 2017-18 and 18 nations in 2016-17 while in 2014-15, he had visited 13 countries beginning with Bhutan in June 2014. In 2018, he travelled to 10 countries with China being the last country that he travelled.
In 2014-15, the cost for chartered flights to overseas destinations was Rs 93.76 crore while in 2015-16, it was Rs 117 crore and in 2016-17, the cost was Rs 76.27 crore whilst in 2017-18, the expense on chartered flights was Rs 99.32 crore.
“Diplomatic outreach during this period (since May 2014) has included first ever visits from India to several countries at the head of government level,” VK Singh said.
He said the outreach has led to enhanced engagement of India’s foreign partners in its flagship programmes.
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