G20 Summit: How much money was spent on Delhi?

India is geared up to host the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi over the weekend (9-10 September). Leaders of the G20 bloc, comprising 19 wealthiest countries and the European Union, have started arriving in the National Capital for the high-profile conclave. Leaders of many international organisations and nine guest countries have also been invited for the two-day summit in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. Murals, G20 banners bearing this year’s theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, sculptures and a spotless Capital awaits these foreign dignitaries. According to the Centre’s data, more than Rs 4,100 crore has been spent to beautify Delhi for the G20 Summit. Let’s look at this in detail. G20 costs India over Rs 4,100 crore Earlier this week, Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi shared a list showing “expenditure for city improvement” for the G20. As per the minister, these expenses, which amount to approximately Rs 4,110 crore, were divided between the Delhi Police, MEA, PWD, Delhi civic bodies MCD and NDMC, DDA, and so on. Money was allocated for everything from security to street signage, maintenance of lights to G20 branding, and clearing encroachment from public areas to painting flyovers and bridges. According to Indian Express, central agencies such as the ITPO, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Military Engineer Services, and those under the Central government – the Delhi Police, NDMC and the DDA – were responsible for 98 per cent of the expenses for the G20 meeting. As per the chart shared by Lekhi, ITPO, which falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, incurred the most expenditure at about Rs 3,600 crore. At Rs 340 crore, the Delhi Police spent the second highest, followed by NDMC at Rs 60 crore.

“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 told Indian Express. “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. Located in Pragati Maidan, the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex, also known as Bharat Mandapam, will host the G20 Summit. A 27-ft-tall 18-tonne Nataraja statue made of Ashtadhatu (eight metals) has been installed outside the complex. [caption id=“attachment_13099562” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] An 18-tonne Nataraja statue in front of Bharat Mandapam, the G20 Summit venue. PTI File Photo[/caption] A whopping Rs 22 crore was doled out to deck out the road between Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to Pragati Maidan to give an “international look”, as per Zee Business. In February, the Central government allocated Rs 990 crore for the G20 presidency in the 2023-24 budget. This is the first time India is hosting the G20 Summit. Meanwhile, the Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) has shelled out Rs 45 crore for the G20. PWD minister Atishi said earlier that several road stretches have been redesigned as per “European standards”. The PWD has put up 1.65 lakh plants, 31 statues, 90 fountains and decorative lights under its jurisdiction to spruce up Delhi. The MCD, under the Delhi government, paid about Rs 5 crore for the G20 and Delhi’s Forest Department Rs 16 crore. While the Union Ministry of Road Surface Transport spent Rs 26 crore, the Delhi Development Authority coughed up Rs 18 crore for the summit. As per a Newslaundry report in July, the Central government incurred Rs 50.6 crore in expenses on outdoor advertisements related to the G20 presidency from December 2022 to April 2023. ALSO READ: G20 dinner: Who has been invited? Has Congress’ Kharge been left out? Row over G20 expenses The Centre and Delhi’s AAP government are at loggerheads over expenditure for the G20, with a ‘credit war’ breaking out between the two over the development and beautification of the city. Lekhi’s tweet on Monday (4 September) came in response to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Atishi claiming that the Central government did not release any funds to the Delhi government despite seeking Rs 927 crore. “We didn’t make it an issue thinking it would reflect poorly on our country. The BJP and the L-G are saying they have done everything. This shows their arrogance,” Atishi told PTI news agency. Hitting back, the Union Minister shared the list and asked why the Delhi government asked for Rs 927 crore when the budget of the PWD alone is “Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore”. “Couldn’t they have spent Rs 927 crore for developing Delhi?” the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture said, as per PTI. In her post on X, Lekhi claimed that the Central government allocated Rs 700 crore for the construction, repair, maintenance and beautification of roads in Delhi. [caption id=“attachment_13099612” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] India is set to host G20 leaders for the summit on 9-10 September in Delhi. PTI[/caption] In early February, the then PWD minister in the Delhi government Manish Sisodia had written a letter to the Centre, seeking a grant of Rs 927 crore to undertake special development projects for the G20 summit, the news agency reported at the time. Earlier on Wednesday, AAP minister Atishi said that preparations are complete and the Capital is ready to welcome the G20 guests. “Heads of state from various nations will be attending the G20 Summit. I am confident that the new look of Delhi will leave a lasting impression on our esteemed guests,” she was quoted as saying by The Hindu.  With inputs from agencies