THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police will soon scrap their old and decaying vehicles. They are acquiring 241 new vehicles, funded by Rs. 33.15 crore sanctioned by the central government. Most of these vehicles will be allocated to police stations and control rooms.

The Thiruvananthapuram City Police alone has requested 25 vehicles—one for each of its 24 stations and one for the control room. Additional vehicles will be purchased later using funds from the budget allocation and the Central Fund for Police Modernisation.

Old police vehicles are notorious for frequent breakdowns, causing accidents or delays on highways. Instances of policemen having to push stalled vehicles, even in the capital, are not uncommon. As per central government directives, any vehicle over 15 years old must be scrapped, making the use of outdated vehicles illegal. The new fleet of 241 vehicles is being procured from the Central Fund.

Repairing the old vehicles is becoming increasingly difficult due to a shortage of spare parts. Private workshops have even stopped servicing them. For example, the jeep from Pettah Police Station that fell into the Parvathy Puthanar canal last July has still not been replaced.

Replacement Rules

• Vehicles can be replaced after covering 3 lakh kilometres.
• Circle Inspectors (CIs) will receive relatively newer vehicles.
• Relatively newer vehicles in the capital are used for escorting ministers and officials. Once they are worn out, they will be reassigned to other districts.

Instances of Vehicle Malfunctions

• In Kasaragod, the Bekal Sub-Inspector’s (SI) vehicle veered off the road while in motion.
• In Thiruvananthapuram, the Special Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police’s (DySP) vehicle caught fire at a city-centre traffic signal.
• During a chief minister’s convoy in Kasaragod, smoke started rising from the DySP’s jeep.

Currently, the state police own about 6,500 vehicles. However, a significant number of them are in poor condition and need urgent replacement.