Pondy LG Bedi curbs ‘club class’ travel by Ministers, civic officials

In an apparent effort to curb public expenditure, Pondicherry’s controversial Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has said that all high-ranking officials, Governor, chief-minister, other Minister and MLAs should travel only by ‘economy’ class and not by ‘club class’ or ‘executive class’ while undertaking air-travel.

Kiren Bedi’s tenure as Lieutenant Governor has been mired in many controversies.  Bedi and Congress chief-minister Narayanaswamy aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on most issues and are avoiding each other in public. Puducherry’s financial status is said to be in a ‘critical’ stage as the State has to repay several thousands of crores of loan.

In a message released on ‘Whatsapp’, Kiran Bedi said “Everyone, starting from Governor, chief-minister, Ministers, MLAs and high-ranking civic officials, should travel only via ‘economy class’ and not by ‘club class’ or ‘business class’ during air-travel on official duty. We are in a situation where every possible rupee needs to be saved; and hence the decision to travel by economy class instead of club class.

“Tender for projects should be floated only if the project has enough funds and remains within the specified budget. Concerned officials should be held responsible if firms getting Govt. grants/financial assistance are not following austerity measures. This step has been taken in view of the financial crunch prevailing in Puducherry and in consultation with the chief-secretary,” she said.