Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 15: President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, had come to the city in connection with his visit to Sringeri on October 7, 2021. It is learnt that the government has spent Rs 12,66,474 relating to this single day visit. This is towards stay, food and minor purchases.

This amount does not include the cost of travel by special flight, expenses connected with the officials who came from other districts, and the deployment of police personnel. In addition to all the rooms in the circuit house here, 49 rooms had been reserved in a star hotel in the city for the stay of the President's family and senior officials. The hotel bill of the President alone has amounted to Rs 9.61 lac. Five rooms in the hotel had been transformed into the President's office during the visit. This information was collected through the Right to Information Act.

Private cars were arranged for the President's team to travel to Sringeri. To provide comfort to people travelling by these cars, white cloth covers and pillows costing Rs 34,850 were purchased by the district administration. One lac rupees was spent for setting up a temporary office of the President at the circuit house. It is learnt that even after five months of the visit, the hotel bill towards hospitality and food offered to the team remains unpaid.