The Kerala police will soon add 373 new vehicles to its fleet following the sanction of Rs 42.33 crore by the state Home Department. 

As part of a replacement drive, plans are underway to replace a total of 1,464 vehicles. 

The Home Department has specified that only vehicles older than 15 years or those carrying a condemnation certificate from the PWD Mechanical Division will be replaced.

A Government Order (GO) revealed that 1,182 police vehicles have already crossed 15 years of service. Of these, 737 have been scrapped, while 445 are in line for scrapping. Additionally, 282 vehicles have been deemed unfit, having run more than three lakh kilometres and completed ten years of service. 

The order noted that 241 vehicles were procured at the end of the last financial year at Rs 33.15 crore, leaving 1,223 still pending replacement.

As per the GO, the new procurement will include 149 cars and SUVs for police stations, 20 SUVs for use in hilly terrains, 40 vehicles for highway patrol units, 100 vehicles for control rooms, and 20 vehicles for armed battalions and special units. The price of highway patrol vehicles should not exceed Rs 10 lakh, the order added.

Thirty Deputy Superintendents of Police in special units will also receive new vehicles, while five cars will be purchased for operational purposes. Eight ambulances will also be added to the fleet, and one interceptor boat will be deployed for the Coastal Police Station, the GO said.
(With inputs from PTI)