With shortage of security vehicles for Commonwealth Games, Delhi police officers may have to give up their wheels
With shortage of security vehicles for Commonwealth Games, Delhi police officers may have to give up their wheels
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| Keep rolling: Delhi traffic cops' new wheels. file photo |
It isn't just the stadia and other city infrastructure which is not ready but with just 65 days for the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Police are clueless about the security vehicles that will be used for the Games. Earlier this year the Delhi Police had floated two tenders regarding hiring of vehicles for security and escort purposes but both the tenders failed.u00a0
With little time to float another tender Commissioner of Police YS Dadwal told his senior officers earlier this month that if another tender failed then the police would take the vehicles given to all the inspectors and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs) around the city. "There was a meeting and CP said that if the police were unable to hire vehicles before the Commonwealth Games, the SHOs and ACPs would have to use taxis," said a source.
"Delhi Police had invited a tender from reputed transporters for hiring of Ambassador Cars/MUVs from Sep 15 to Oct 15 for use by Delhi police during Commonwealth Games. But no big fleet owners could meet the criteria. That is why Delhi police is considering alternate arrangements," said a source.
"The regular vehicles of officers will maintain symmetry with police logo while the hired vehicles won't have the logo. The idea will work fine," said an officer.u00a0
However, MS Sandhu, Joint Commissioner of Police, P&L, said, "Though the first tender couldn't succeed, we had re-issued another tender that would close on August 2."
In fact the bidders were asked to provide a vehicle with model not older than 2006 along with the fitness and permit certificates and all details of drivers. According to sources, it's almost impossible to find an operator with such a large fleet of vehicles that meet the given criteria. "But individual officers could easily hire the vehicles meeting the standards," added a senior officer.
Although ministry of home affairs has sanctioned crores of rupees to strengthen the security situation for the forthcoming CWG, but on the ground, arrangements haven't been completed as yet. In fact, a CWG security planning office headed by a Joint Commissioner of Police had been set up in April 2006.
| LONG DRIVE |
| July 12: issuance of tender for hiring of 250 Nos. Cars/MUVs having 800cc from Sep 15 to Oct 15 during Commonwealth Games for use in Delhi police
July 9: issuance of tender for hiring of 600 Ambassador Cars/MUVs from Sep 15 to Oct 14 for use of Delhi police during Commonwealth Games |
The Union government has approved the installation of an integrated security system for the Games through ECIL for Rs 370 crore which includes a provision of Rs 30 crore for 'bandwidth'.
With an estimated expenditure of Rs 426 crore, the MHA had sanctioned 12,612 posts to Delhi police to strengthen the security arrangements.
There were also proposals for the procurement of additional security equipments which include X-Ray scanners, door frame metal detectors, hand held metal detectors, communication equipments with an estimated expenditure of Rs 104.93 crore.
| CANNY CANINES |
| A new team of dogs will add teeth to the Commonwealth Games security! They will sniff out explosives, do anti-sabotage duties and vehicle checks and help sanitise the Games village, stadiums, hotels and parking lots. Seventy-five more canines have been added to the dog squad of the Capital's police to provide fool-proof security during the October 3-14 sporting extravaganza. With this, the number of dogs with Delhi Police has gone up to 123. "They are being trained to provide security at all the venues, markets, parking lots and VVIP routes," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said. |
