It is still not known whether CM Pramod Sawant will use the vehicle OR NOT. If you ask me, the answer should be No. As we have seen during the Jan Sampark yatra, Sawant is seen on scooters and motorcycles, so definitely, there isn’t any threat to him.
Moreover, Sawant does use his pilot vehicles in front and behind his official car, which his predecessor Manohar Parrikar never did even when he was the Defence Minister of India.
At one press conference, one journo even asked him why he does not use security; he had humbly replied, “this is my State, and I feel no threat here.”
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemakrponn
The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved bulletproof cars for VIP movement in the State.
The State has to spend around Ra 70 lakhs more to fabricate two Toyota fortunes, which were already purchased by the Goa Police.
It’s the first for Goa to buy Bulletproof cars since liberation. Earlier, whenever a VVIP arrived in Goa, their bulletproof cars were either transported or flown in.
With elections around the corner, it is evident that many VVIPs would be campaigning in Goa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at BJP National president Jagat Prakash Nadda are expected to be in State for the high voltage campaigning.
In fact, Prime Minister Modi could be in Goa soon for the inauguration of Aguada jail if he accepts CMs invitation. These VVIPs will need bulletproof vehicles. One may ask why God government should pay for the cars?
It is still not known whether CM Pramod Sawant will use the vehicle OR NOT. If you ask me, the answer should be No. As we have seen during the Jan Sampark yatra, Sawant is seen on scooters and motorcycles, so definitely, there isn’t any threat to him.
Moreover, Sawant does use his pilot vehicles in front and behind his official car, which his predecessor Manohar Parrikar never did even when he was the Defence Minister of India.
At one press conference, one journo even asked him why he does not use security; he had humbly replied, “this is my State, and I feel no threat here.”
Even as chief minister of Goa, he hardly used pilot vehicles and used minimum security. At times we could not make out the CM is already come as there was no police siren.
Now though the situation has changed, Sawant sometimes feels threatened by his own people and uses a lot of security. Maybe, the bulletproof vehicle is one such move to avert any possible threat.
Now that the government has approved the bulletproof vehicles, one opines whether the helicopter is on the list next.
The Goa government is one of the few states that does not have its own helicopter, and sources say CM has had issues visiting far-flung places after natural disasters.
Maybe, the helicopter is in the waiting and could soon become a reality.
As regards the bulletproof vehicle, the Sanction of the Government was accorded to the Office of Director General of Police, Panaji, for purchase of 02 nos. of Toyota Fortuner HR 4×4 MT 2.8L (Manual) vehicles (each Unit cost of Rs.32,14,750/- plus fabrication cost of Rs.40,00,000/-) both total amount of Rs. 1,44,29,500/-, in the second quarter of the year 2019-20 for the use of Goa Police Department.
Subsequently, Order No. 1/24/2019 HD(G)/Vehicles/HLEC/1793, dated 14/08/2020, was issued to the Office of Director General of Police, Panaji, to incur an additional expenditure of Rs.70,000/- towards 02 nos. of Toyota Fortuner HR 4×4 MT 2.8L (Manual) due to revised price of the vehicles.
Accordingly, the Sharayu Toyota, Caranzalem, Panaji, has supplied 02 Toyota Fortuner HR 4×4 MT 2.8L to the Director-General of Police Office.
After that, the Police Department proposed to retrofit the 02 nos. of Toyota Fortuner vehicles into Bullet Resistant Vehicles and approached ITI Ltd. Regional Office, National Insurance Building, Mumbai (Government of India Undertaking) deals with Retrofitting of Bullet Resistant Vehicles. Vide letter dated 18/02/2021, ITI Ltd. furnished the Shield Armoring Design and Specification along with commercial offer specifying the cost of 01 no. of Retrofitting of Bullet Resistant Vehicle as Rs.32,98,000/- and total cost of 02 nos. of Retrofitting of Bullet Resistant Vehicle as Rs.65,96,000/- (Rupees Sixty Five Lakhs Ninety Six Thousand only).