Unlike predecessor, he doesn't want roads sanitised every time he drives out

P Chidambaram seems bent on not carrying around predecessor Shivraj Patil's legacy, at least with his convoy.

The mundu-clad home minister is learnt to have instructed the Delhi police not to make elaborate security arrangements or sanitise traffic by inconveniencing commuters while he travelled in the Capital.

Delhi police sources said early December, soon after he took over as home minister, Chidambaram had asked to do away with the routine exercise.

As a routine practice, message about the visits of VVIPs like the Prime Minister, President, Chief Justice of India and a few Cabinet ministers including the home minister are flashed in the traffic control room to make way for them and avoid any traffic hindrances. Hordes of additional traffic policemen usually get out on the road to make sure that the VVIP gets a smooth passage.

"However, the new home minister has given us strict instructions that no message be flashed, so that no one knows where he goes and when he goes," said a senior police official requesting anonymity. "He even insists on waiting for red signals to turn green, unlike most other VVIPs."

The instruction has surprised the Delhi police brass.

"There is a basic security apparatus which is given to a person of his status. Refusing basic procedure certainly confirms that he is setting an example for his colleagues," said a senior police official involved in the security and traffic arrangements of VVIP movement in the Capital.

No Home Ministry or police official, however, would confirm this. Additional Commissioner of Police (Security) MK Meena refused to comment, while Traffic Police Chief and Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) SN Srivastava denied any such instructions from the Home Ministry. Chidambaram had also refused to get his security coveru00a0called "positional security"u00a0upgraded from Y category, which he had when he was finance minister. Patil had Z-Plus security cover.