(Image source from: economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Narendra Modi, in his 48 months as a Prime Minister of India made 41 trips to over 50 countries, at a total outlay of Rs. 355 crore, and was overseas for a cumulative 165 days.

Right to Information (RTI) disclosed the information through replies to queries submitted to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) by RTI activist Bhimappa Gadad.

According to (RTI) response, among Modi's 41 trips to 52 countries, the highest amount of money was spent on his nine-day tri-nation visit to France, Germany, and Canada between April 9-15, 2015, which incurred expenses to the tune of Rs. 31,25,78,000, whereas the least expensive trip, was his very one as Prime Minister, to Bhutan on June 15-16, 2014 at a cost of Rs. 2,45,27,465.

Gadad, who filed the RTI petition seeking information about expenses on PM's abroad trips, said he filed it out of curiosity. "A few years ago, I had applied for details of foreign visits by chief ministers of Karnataka. Recently, I was going through news reports wherein Prime Minister's foreign visits were heavily criticized. Then I applied under RTI seeking details of PM’s foreign visits and I was really shocked to know the details," he said.

He is bitter about the PMO not providing information on domestic travels of the Prime Minister. "They have not furnished details of domestic visits and expenses for security provided during the visits. I did not ask for details of security measures. I just asked for the expenses, but they refused, saying the SPG security organization, which takes care of PM security, is exempted from the purview of RTI," he said.

"Though I got the information out of curiosity, I want it to reach the public. Everyone should know about it," he said, adding that the Centre should also release reports on the benefits to the country emerging from these visits.

By Sowmya Sangam