Over RS 4,100 crore was spent on sprucing up the Capital for the G20 Summit, according to government records on expenses related to the two-day event, which will kick off Saturday.
According to the records, the expenses were categorised broadly under around 12 categories.
Sources said security, among the most significant components of G20 preparations, was among the most prominent items on the list of expenditure in addition to the maintenance of roads, footpaths, street signage and lighting. Nine government agencies – from civic bodies such as the NDMC and the MCD – to departments under the Ministry of Defence incurred expenditure of about Rs 75 lakh to over Rs 3,500 crore on work ranging from horticulture improvement to G20 branding.
At over Rs 4,000 crore, central agencies such as the ITPO, the Ministry of Road Surface Transport and the Military Engineer Services in addition to those operating in the capital under Central government such as the Delhi Police, NDMC and the DDA incurred 98% of the expenses for the Summit, as per the records of the Central and state governments.
“Since most of the asset creation and maintenance was done in areas under the NDMC and Lutyens’ Zone, Central government departments have undertaken most of the expenses; security arrangements have seen substantial expenditure given the guest list,” an official said.“Expenditure undertaken by the ITPO is not solely for the Summit as it has to do with the creation of long-term assets such as the Bharat Mandapam,” the official added.
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At about ₹3,600 crore, the ITPO, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, footed over 87% of the bill followed by Rs 340 crore by the Delhi Police and Rs 60 crore by the NDMC.
Delhi’s Public Works Department spent about Rs 45 crore, the Union Ministry of Road Surface Transport Rs 26 crore, the Delhi Development Authority Rs 18 crore, Delhi’s Forest Department Rs 16 crore, and the MCD Rs 5 crore.
“The beautification of public spaces especially through sculptures and other assets falling under the category of street furniture would have led to a lot more expenditure if not done through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, as is the case,” the official also said.
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