Since 1990, govt has spent Rs 55 crore on MPs' transit stay

Times of India: New Delhi: Thursday, 26 March 2015.

Government has released about Rs 35.75 crores on the transit accommodation of Members of Parliament between 1990-91 and 2013-14. Sources said the outstanding bill from ITDC-run hotels and state guest houses would be another Rs 20-25 crore.

With the outstanding piling up year after year, the Lok Sabha secretariat has issued ultimatum to first time MPs staying in Hotel Ashok to move to their official accommodation or foot the bill for staying in the luxury hotel. About 50 MPs are staying in the hotel, which charges Rs 9,000 per day only for the stay and buffet breakfast. The other two ITDC hotels that provide transit accommodation to MPs are Hotel Janpath and Hotel Samrat.

In an RTI response to Delhi resident Ved Pal, the urban development ministry has said, "No separate data of expenditure on transit accommodation after even general election is maintained." However, it maintains the details of expenditure incurred during each financial year and the year-wise details were shared in the RTI reply. "While the bill on account of such transit accommodation is raised within a year of any general election, we release the payment when we have the budget. So, the outstanding amount is increasing," said a government official.

Sources said ITDC has informed urban development ministry how it's unable to manage with the huge outstanding amount for putting up the MPs till they move into government accommodation.

TOI has learnt that the Lok Sabha House Committee in its last meeting had decided to serve notice to the MPs still staying in Hotel Ashok once Central Public Works Department informed the committee that the houses allocated to MPs are "habitable".