HYDERABAD: The Telangana government needs thousands of crores for various infrastructure projects. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao , just three days ago, wrote to the NITI Ayog seeking permission to borrow more than what is permissible from financial institutions under the Financial Responsibility and Budget Management Act. He promised that such additional funds will be used only on infrastructure projects.

Barely three days after his letter to the NITI Ayog, the state government has ap proved over Rs 2 crores (Rs 2,03,84,625 to be exact) for hiring a private executive jet for the chief minister and the accompanying delegation for a week-long trip to China, primarily to attend a World Economic Forum event in Balian city, starting September 8.

What this sum of money buys (or `charters' in this case) is a super-luxury CRJ 100 aircraft. According to the website of AR Airways Private Limited, the CRJ 100 aircraft “defines the idea of luxury .“ The company says that it is a 50-seater plane “customized to seat 17+1 passengers with plush interiors, leather seats, sofas and a customised entertainment centre. The twin engine business jet comes equipped with satellite phones, DVD, Mood Lighting and LCD Screens.The luxury seats can rotate 180 degree, enabling guests to hold meetings and dine with one another.“ This is the only top-of-the-line business jet model launched in India, it adds.

Industries minister Jupally Krishna Rao, IT and panchayat raj minister KT Rama Rao, senior government officials are among those who are expected to accompany the chief minister on the trip.

The government orders sanctioning the amount for chartering the private jet were issued on Monday . The aircraft has been chartered for use from September 8 to 16, while the WEF meeting is from September 9 to 11.

In its orders releasing the money, the government said that the sanctioned amount is to be debited as “assistance to public sector and other undertaking“ -in this case, the Telangana Aviation Corporation, which is hiring the jet on behalf of the government.

Quick to pounce on the spend after the private jet, the state BJP on Tuesday criticised the CM and demanded that he and his entourage instead fly commercial airlines. In a statement, the BJP said that it was unfortunate that KCR was spending such huge amounts on a trip when the state was in the grip of drought.

Incidentally , a first class return ticket from Hyderabad to Dalian on a commercial jet costs about Rs 3 lakh per person.