Debt Ridden State, But Ministers Deserve Luxury? Punjab Government Approves Purchase Of 434 New Cars

Captain Amarinder Singh led Congress government of Punjab is all set to buy 434 new luxury cars worth nearly Rs 100 crore for the chief minister, cabinet ministers and other functionaries of the state, The New Indian Express has reported.

According to the report, the finance department of the debt-ridden state has approved the purchase of luxury cars.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who enjoys Z-plus category security, will get 16 brand new Toyota land cruisers (luxury SUV) in his fleet.

A government official was quoted in the report saying that with bulletproofing and other works inside, each of these vehicles will cost over Rs 1.70 crore.

The justification given for the purchase in official files point to earlier vehicles either outliving their utility or having run the maximum permissible mileage under the state government rules.

As per the report, while Toyota Fortuners would be provided to the 17 cabinet ministers of the government, the legislators, including 30 of opposition, would also get nearly 100 Toyota Crysta multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs).

Other state beneficiaries include advocate general, chief secretary, top bureaucrats and officers, and other senior and middle level officers of the Punjab government.

In total, 434 cars would be purchased and provided to various functionaries of the state.