Live
- Varun's appointment as AHUDA chief infused new vigour in JSP cadres
- Lokayukta, HRC will remain in Kurnool: Minister Bharath
- S Korea, US, Japan unveil secretariat establishment, slam N Korea-Russia on Ukraine war expansion
- Light to Moderate Rains Expected in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
- Pilgrims throng Sabarimala temple on opening day of long festive season
- Jwala Thoranam held at Srisailam temple
- Birsa Munda Jayanti celebrated
- Another tigress released in soft enclosure in Similipal
- Coastal defence exercise on Nov 20-21
- Budget allocated for Perur reservoir rekindles farmers’ hope
Land Cruisers, Fortuners among 400 luxury cars approved by Punjab for ministers
Over 400 luxury vehicles have been approved by the Punjab government for the chief minister, ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats, a Transport Department order said on Friday
Chandigarh: Over 400 luxury vehicles have been approved by the Punjab government for the chief minister, ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats, a Transport Department order said on Friday.
The purchase of new vehicles is likely to cost around Rs 80 crore on the state exchequer, officials said.
As per the norms for vehicle entitlement, the department has approved 16 Land Cruisers, including two bulletproof, for the chief minister, 13 Mahindra Scorpios for his staff, 14 Maruti Dzire/Honda Amaze/Ertiga for the officers on special duty (OSDs) to the CM, the order said.
Besides, 17 ministers in the Amarinder Singh cabinet will be given Toyota Fortuner or Toyota Crysta, while 97 Toyota Crysta will be brought for legislators, as per the order.
With the new entitlement of vehicles, the chief minister will get Land Cruiser instead of eight Ambassadors and six Mitsubishi Monteros, ministers will now have Toyota Fortuner or Toyota Crysta in place of Toyota Camry, legislators travel mode has been upgraded from Toyota Innova to Toyota Innova Crysta, the order said.
However, officials said no purchase order has been given by the state government for the new luxury vehicles so far.
Farm organisations, including the BKU, criticised the order saying it would put extra burden on state exchequer.
The Finance minister during the Budget Session had said the state was reeling under a debt of around Rs 1,95,978 crore.
