AAP govt to double Ad Budget

The AAP government has decided to double its Rs 3.5-crore budget on hoardings to highlight its three-year “achievements” in Delhi.

“The proposal has not been approved yet. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is examining the files,” said a senior Delhi government official.

Many senior officials questioned the plan because the anniversary happened 10 days ago. Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has said he was assaulted by two AAP MLAs on Monday last over delays in release of such ads.

The government’s spokesperson did not respond to DNA’s message and calls.

A recent RTI application revealed that the government spent an annual average of Rs 70.5 crore in the past three years on advertisements — four times more than the previous government’s expenditure on print, electronic and outdoor advertising.

The Arvind Kejriwal government spent Rs 59.9 crore on advertisements in the first year since assuming office in February 2015, Rs 66.3 crore the next year and Rs 85.3 crore up to December 31, 2017, the Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) said in its reply to the RTI plea.

DIP says the expenditure includes ads with photos of the CM and other ministers.