Bengaluru: In a significant development, all 33 ministers in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah‘s cabinet are set to receive new high-end vehicles, as the government allocates Rs 9.9 crore for this purpose. The government has opted for the purchase of 33 recently launched Toyota Innova Hybrid Hycross cars, with each minister receiving one. According to an official government order, each vehicle is expected to cost approximately Rs 30 lakh (including GST at the ex-showroom rate).
Under Section 4(G) of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, the government is directly procuring these cars from Toyota Kirloskar in Bengaluru. Notably, these cars represent the world’s first fully ethanol-powered flex fuel engines, introduced on August 29.
However, the move has drawn criticism from BJP MLA Ashwath Narayan, who expressed concerns over the government’s expenditure on new vehicles for ministers. Narayan argued that the Karnataka government is currently grappling with financial challenges and should exercise fiscal responsibility, especially as it continues to address pressing issues affecting the people even after completing 100 days in office.
