Tai set public transport wheels running, spent 1/4 of funds on it

INDORE:

Lok Sabha

Speaker and Member of Parliament from

Indore

constituency Sumitra Mahajan, who won the seat eight times, is passionate about public transport services- be it roads or railways. A fact that is confirmed by her spending from her MP local area development fund shows about one-fourth of the sanctions for improving public transport.

In last five years, the Lok Sabha Speaker emphasized on spending most of her MPLAD funds in various works of development in rural areas of the district.

Under the MPLAD, an MP can recommend development work in his/her constituency for which they are allotted Rs 5 crore per year, which is carried forward in case of non-release of fund in a particular year. Under the scheme, Mahajan, also known as 'Tai', has spent maximum Rs 6.22 crore in Sanwer assembly seat and minimum Rs 1.10 crore in Indore-II constituency.

She utilized most of her funds in the sector identified as Railways, Roads, Pathways and Bridges as 1/4th of the budget i.e. Rs 6.19 crore was allotted for it. Besides, Mahajan also spent around Rs 20 lakh, which was maximum for one project, in development of a sports facility.

This apart, Tai's emphasis was there on making basic amenities by using MPLAD funds including that drinking water, sanitation and public health, education and other public facilities as most of the budget was spent on it.

"Mahajan has utilized entire of fund allotted under the scheme that include Rs 25 crore for sanction for five years and Rs 1.04 crore including 67 lakh, which was carried forward of fund of 15th Lok Sabha, and 37 lakh as interest on the amount. Of this, Rs 25.54 crore was spent on various development works while around Rs 50 lakh was utilized as administrative expenses" the divisional joint director, planning and statistics, JP

Parihar

told TOI.