Over ₹255 cr spent on chartered flights during PM Modi’s foreign engagements in last 3 years

An expenditure of over ₹255 crore was incurred on chartered flights during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign engagements in the past three years, the Rajya Sabha was told on Thursday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that in 2016-17 ₹76.27 crore was spent on chartered flights while in 2017-18 ₹99.32 crore was spent.

In 2018-19, ₹79.91 crore was spent while the bill for 2019-20 has not been received, he said, adding in 2016-17, ₹2,24,75,451 were incurred on hotline facilities while in 2017-18 the cost incurred for it was ₹58,06,630.

To a question on expenditure incurred on domestic engagements, he said, "As per Government of India policy on use of IAF aircraft/helicopters by VVIPs and VIPs, the Prime Minister is entitled for free airlift in IAF aircrafts and helicopters on official tours."