NEW DELHI – The Centre is planning to splurge over ₹100 crore to host theUS President Donald Trump in his first visit to India on February 24.
In his two-day tour starting on February 24, Trump will spend around threehours in Ahmedabad for which Ahmedabad authorities will spend ₹80 to ₹85crore to beautify the city, *Reuters* reported.Expenditure
The total expenditure on Trump’s visit to Gujarat is equivalent to about1.5 per cent of the annual budget of Gujarat. More than 12000 policeofficers are to be deployed around the world’s largest cricket stadium -Motera, which has the capacity to host around one lakh people.Expenditure on the construction of roads and walls
According to Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner cited in *Reuters*, stateauthorities have spent around ₹30 crore on improving the infrastructurearound the new cricket stadium where Trump is going to address one lakhpeople.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner noted that eighteen roads of about 20kilometers in length from Ahmedabad airport to Motera stadium have beenwidened or re-laid. He, however, claimed that the government intended toimprove the infrastructure even before Trump’s news of arrival surfaced.
According to the *Reuters* report, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation isalso erecting a wall along the road, connecting the Sardar VallabhbhaiPatel International Aiport to Indira Bridge, to mask the slum areas fallingin the zone.Beautification drive in Ahmedabad
The civic authorities will set out on a plantation drive amounting to ₹6crore as a part of its “beautification plan”. The authorities will plantfully grown date palms along the Sabarmati Riverfront stretch, the*Reuters* reportadded.
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Another report by the Independent stated that to achieve the short-noticeplan, Ahmedabad local authority has served eviction notices to peopleliving around the area especially slum dwellers.
According to a Reuters’ source, 150 masons are working round-the-clock tofinish the ambitious plan before Trump’s arrival.Overheads
The government will spend ₹80 crore for resurfacing and constructing newroads on Trump’s route. ₹12-15 crore for security for US President. ₹7-10crore for transport and refreshments of over one lakh guests at theinauguration of Motera stadium. ₹6 crore for the beautification of the cityincluding exotic flowers. ₹4 crore for the cultural extravaganza, accordingto a media report.Spike in room tariffs
Star category hotels in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar witness a steep hike inroom tariffs by 30-50 per cent following the announcement of the megaevent, Financial Express reported.
Trump’s arrival comes amidst souring trade relations between India and theUS. hinting his dissatisfaction over US-India trade ties, Trump said tomedia, “We’re not treated very well by India but I happen to like Modi alot.
