Punjab Ministers Indulge In ‘Gaadigiri’, While State Suffers Debt Of Rs 1.95 Lakh Crore 

An order issued by the Department of Transport, Government of Punjab, has approved 400 luxury vehicles for being used by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet and bureaucrats among others. This move will cost the exchequer Rs 80 crore.

Following the norms set for entitlement of vehicles, the department has sanctioned two bullet proof cars among the 16 other Land Cruisers that have been ordered. Apart from the aforementioned, 13 Scorpios, 14 Maruthi Dzire/Honda Amaze/Ertiga have been ordered for officers on special duty, News 18 has reported.

Cabinet Ministers will receive 17 Toyota Fortuners or Crysta and MLAs will get 97 Crysta vehicles. Several upgrades in the entitlement of vehicles has led the department to approve and upgrade vehicles that are being allotted. For instance, instead of getting a Toyota Camry, ministers will now be getting Fortuners. The purchase order is still pending and has not been given by the government.

Opposition parties and several other organisations have criticised this move of the government, as the state is already facing a huge debt crisis. During the Budget Session, Minister of Finance for the state of Punjab had informed that the debt amounted to Rs 1,95,978 crore and the state was under tremendous pressure to clear it off.