The Supreme Court on Monday accepted the submission of the Delhi government that it would make budgetary provisions for making contributions towards the regional rapid transit system (RRTS) project.

In the previous hearing, the Delhi government had pleaded inability to contribute to the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project due to paucity of funds. After this, the apex court had asked the Kejriwal-led Delhi government to appraise the money spent by it on advertisements in the last three financial years.

The Delhi government in its affidavit stated that around Rs 1,073 crore was spent on advertisements.

“We were constrained to pass the last order only on account of the fact that the Delhi Government had thrown its hand up for contributing their proportionate amounts,” the bench comprising of Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said. “However,” it noted, “if Rs 1,100 crore can be spent for advertisement in the last three financial years, certainly, contributions can be made to infrastructure projects.”

The court said, “Either you pay or we will attach your advertisement budget”.

However, the Delhi government assured that it would make the payment in installments spread over a reasonable period of time. The top court has also directed the government to pay the overdue amount.