NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Delhi Police’s top brass not to cause inconvenience to common citizens whenever his convoy travels on the capital roads from this year. They have also been asked to reevaluate the deployment of nearly 500 security personnel during Modi’s movement in the capital and minimise the strength.
In a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi, Special Protection Group (SPG) Director Vivek Srivastava has mentioned about Modi’s “displeasure” over the inconvenience caused to general public during his convoy in Delhi. “The private secretary to the PM has conveyed the displeasure of the PM on inconvenience caused to general public during his movement in Delhi,” said the letter.
In his letter, which The Sunday Standard has accessed, Srivastava has asked senior police officials to follow “certain guidelines” to reduce the impact of movement of the PM’s motorcade. SPG provides close-proximity security while the Delhi Police is in charge of the peripheral security.
Sources said the PMO has asked them not to make the stretch into a fortress during his convoy in the capital. “The PMO asked us not to restrict traffic movement on the opposite carriageway so as to cause minimum inconvenience to the commuters. They asked us to ensure the plans implemented from this year.” said the senior police officer.
Srivastava has also asked Bassi to meet him after finalising the suggestions made by the PMO. Sources said the threat perception to Modi was bigger compared to his predecessors. “Following the heightened threat perception from terrorist outfits, Delhi Police used mark two routes with two cavalcades simultaneously during his movement in the capital. The decision on which route he will take is taken at the last moment to maintain secrecy and that’s why traffic is stopped on both routes,” said a senior official. But when Modi expressed his displeasure about two routes, the security agencies stuck to one route.
The 13 specified daily routes undertaken by the PM include his residence (7 Race Course Road) to the airport; to BJP headquarters on Ashoka Road; to PMO at Raisina Hill; to Vigyan Bhawan; to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Delhi office at Keshav Kunj; to Rajghat; to Parliament; and to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In September last year, people had taken to social media to criticize Modi after schools were shut and the city’s main crematorium turned into a parking lot during his brief trip to Chandigarh. Modi had regretted the inconvenience caused to common people.
“The inconvenience caused to citizens in Chandigarh, especially shutting of schools due to my visit is regretted. It was totally avoidable,” he wrote. “An inquiry will be held & responsibility will be fixed...”
Plans of Delhi Police & SPG
■ Delhi Police personnel should release the traffic once the tail of the car of the PM’s motorcade has crossed the point and has moved about 50 metres ahead.
■ Traffic moving on the
opposite carriageway should not ordinarily be stopped.
■ PSOs of Supreme Court and High Court judges would be sensitised to ascertain in advance the appropriate route for movement of dignitaries to avoid any inconvenience.
■ The speed of the motorcade will ordinarily be limited to a maximum of 80 kmph.