State buys expensive cars for BSY, guv use in Delhi

The Yeddyurappa government has purchased over half a dozen luxury automobiles, splurging over Rs 1 crore to ferry VIPs visiting Delhi from Karnataka.

A brand new Sport Utility Vehilce (SUV)--Honda CRV-- costing around Rs 23 lakh has been purchased for Yeddyurappa’s exclusive use. For Bharadwaj, the Toyota Camry sedan cost a cool Rs 24 lakh. 

Besides these, the State government has purchased seven Maruti Suzuki SX4, each costing Rs 7.5 lakh, for daily the use of senior Karnataka Bhavan officials as well as MPs and ministers visiting the national capital.

Karnataka Bhavan has 18 Ambassador cars for the use of VIPs. Since most are a little out-dated and maintaining them increases the overheads, the government decided to replace them with new, fuel-efficient vehicles, State government sources told Deccan Herald.

It is learnt that the vehicles purchased for the chief minister and the governor were at the insistence of their respective offices. The staff at the chief minister and the governor’s offices specified their choice of brands and specification in accordance with “safety” regulations for the two.

“Both the luxury vehicles have more safety features, including six air bags in each car,” sources said.

Since becoming chief minister, Yeddyurappa was using an Ambassador while the car earmarked for the governor was a Hyundai Sonata. “The Sonata is in good condition but the governor’s office insisted on a new car.” The Ambassador and the Sonata will soon be auctioned.

A beaming Yeddyurappa travelled in the newly procured SUV on his visit here on Monday when he met Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to thank for releasing funds to the State so it could undertake relief and rehabilitation projects in the flood-hit areas.

The car-buying spree, both in Bangalore and here, flies in the face of Yeddyurappa’s promise to cut down on government expenditure so the money could be utilised for the flood-affected people.