G20 Summit 2023: Delhi Beautification Costs Rs.4,064 Crore
India is hosting the G20 Summit in New Delhi with substantial spending on preparations, including venue construction, security, and city beautification.
India is all set to host the G20 Summit on September 9 and 10. The summit is scheduled to be held in Bharat Mandapam at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. A total of Rs 2,700 crore has been spent on the construction and beautification of the venue. India will host global leaders and their spouses from 19 countries including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will attend the G20 summit from September 8 to 10. Thus, the Government of India has made rigorous security arrangements for the guests. They have booked around 3,500 rooms across 21 hotels in Delhi and Gurugram to accommodate the delegates. The country heads will be staying in some of the most luxurious hotels in the national capital. India has also invited some non-G20 member countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, as guests. US President Joe Biden will stay at the ITC Maurya Sheraton. Secret service commandos will be present on each floor of the hotel. According to reports, his room would be on the 14th floor. The Chanakya Suite where Biden is staying, will be the costliest of all as it will cost Rs 8 lakh in total. India booked the Taj Palace for China's President Xi Jinping. However, Xi Jinping will not attend the high-profile conclave. China's state council premier, Li Qiang, will attend the G20 summit as his replacement. The Brazil delegation will also stay at the Taj Palace. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will stay at the Shangri-La Eros Hotel. Moreover, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will reportedly also stay at this hotel. The Claridges Hotel on Motilal Nehru Marg will host French President Emmanuel Macron. If you are planning a hotel visit, check before you leave home. Most hotels hosting VVIPs will be out of bounds between September 8 and 10. The host country pays for everything. New Delhi often hosts high-profile events and has one of the best infrastructures in the country. But, focusing on the G20 Summit, the central government has spent as much as Rs 4,064 crore on the beautification of the city. As many as 125 fountains and 70 large statues have been installed in various parts of the city. The expenditure also includes money spent to bring 1 lakh flower plants from eight countries. Just for Delhi, 2,000 trees and 43 lakh plants have also been brought from across the world. The government has spent a huge amount of Rs 22 crore to give an international look to the road from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Pragati Maidan. According to the report, the money was spent on roads, security, footpaths, and lighting, among several other things. Other direct costs related to the event being held in Delhi have not been revealed so far. Though there is no estimate available for money that will be spent on security, it will presumably come at a high cost. The government has arranged a 3-layer security system for the G20 summit. The first layer of security will be provided by the respective security agencies from the participating countries. The Indian security agencies will provide the second layer of security. The third layer will be the Delhi Police, which will be on high alert all the time outside the hotels of participating dignitaries.
