No escort vehicles for VIPs in Navi Mumbai

State Home Minister RR Patil set an example for others on Sunday. He left a police function in Nerul without the usual escort-pilot vehicles of Navi Mumbai police. Patil has ordered that VIPs, including him, will not be provided pilot-escort vehicles of the Navi Mumbai police as they pass through it.

State Home Minister RR Patil set an example for others on Sunday.

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He left a police function in Nerul without the usual escort-pilot vehicles of Navi Mumbai police. Patil has ordered that VIPs, including him, will not be provided pilot-escort vehicles of the Navi Mumbai police as they pass through it.

Patil was in Navi Mumbai on Sunday for the bhoomipujan of the police club and gymnasium at the police commissionerate office in CBD Belapur followed by a felicitation programme of policemen and citizens at D.Y. Patil Auditorium in Nerul.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol talked about the difficulties faced by Navi Mumbai police due to inadequate infrastructure. Patil said, “There is a need for additional police vehicles in the city and we shall try to get them at the earliest. Till the new vehicles come, Navi Mumbai police need not provide pilot-escort vehicles to the VIPs who pass through the city via the highways. It puts additional strain on the man and machine infrastructure.”

He added: “Even I should not be provided the vehicles. Only those facing a threat to their lives should be given this facility.”

Patil said: “The security of the common man is of paramount importance. It would be better if the vehicles that are pressed into service for the VIPs are used for the people of the city.”

Navi Mumbai police officials said that around 6-7 VIPs pass through the city every day and they have to be provided at least two vehicles each. Each vehicle carries 3-4 police personnel. “We will now be able to have 14 vehicles and 50 men for other police work.”