'Huge deficiency' in PM Modi, VVIPs' transport fleet, says SPG; moves NGT for registration of diesel vehicles

The SPG has approached the Tribunal seeking direction to the Delhi Transport Department to allow registration of its diesel vehicles.

New Delhi: The Special Protection Group (SPG), which provide protection to VVIPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for permission to get registered diesel vehicles, citing that there has been a huge deficiency in its motor transport fleet.

The agency has approached the Tribunal seeking direction to the Delhi Transport Department to allow registration of its diesel vehicles, the Indian Express reported.

In its application, SPG said they were in process of discarding 28 diesel vehicles and as a result, a “huge deficiency” has been created, according to the report

The NGT has reportedly asked the SPG to furnish more details about their case and said it would consider the plea on September 15.

In its plea, the SPG said manpower and equipment are vital components and suitable vehicles of different categories are required.

The tribunal had last year banned the registration of new diesel vehicles.

“Considering the urgency and operational requirement, transport Department, Govt of NCT Delhi may be directed to allow registration of their vehicles forthwith.

Failing which huge inconvenience would be caused to SPG in performing their statutory obligations as enshrined in Special Protection Group Act, 1988…”

“More so, Supreme Court vide order of September 28, 2001 has considered the vehicle fleet of SPG as separate category,” the report said citing the NGT application.

The SPG said that it has been authorised to keep 506 vehicles of various categories in their fleet.

The SPG has exclusive mandate under the law to provide security cover to most important personalities, including Prime Minister, and their family members who are vulnerable for high-security threat.

The SPG has recently procured six BS-IV complied diesel buses but when it approached the Transport Department, it intimated that registration of new diesel vehicle is not allowed by the tribunal’s December 11, 2015 order, the Express reported.