New Delhi: According to official data, PM Narendra Modi’s foreign trips amount to around Rs. 275 crore from 15th June 2014 till 8th September 2016.
The costliest travel was nine-day trip to France, Germany and Canada which accounted for over Rs. 31 crore.
It may be mentioned that Indian Air Force BBJ aircraft is used for his several foreign trips.
According to the report published in India Samvad, the travel expenses are charged to budget head “Cabinet Ministers — Maintenance of PM’s aircraft — Other charges”.
During the period from 15th June 2014 to 8th September 2016, Modi visited many countries more than once such as USA, Japan, Nepal, China.
Surprisingly, PM Modi’s foreign trips amounted to Rs. 275 crore in about two years period whereas former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh’s air travel expenses were just Rs. 642 crore for the period from 2004 to June 2013.
According to RTI, Mr. Singh undertook 67 trips since 2004 of which the bills of 62 visits were received and it amounted to Rs. 642.45 crore.
The RTI also revealed that the maximum expenses on his trip to Mexico and Brazil in 2012 to attend G20 Summit and Rio+20 Summit were Rs. 26.94 crore.