Pilot vehicle discontinued for dignitaries on NH-1 in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: As part of its efforts to rationalise the use of pilot vehicles on National Highway-1, Haryana police have decided not to provide pilot vehicle to dignitaries, except for the Z plus protectees, who commute between Delhi and Chandigarh or vice-versa.

"A review of the policy on pilot vehicles has been carried out and it has been felt that provision of pilot vehicles on National Highway-1 is superfluous in cases of dignitaries who are merely transiting from Delhi to Chandigarh or vice-versa," a recent communique to all Commissioners of Police, all district SPs and DCPs of Panchkula and Ambala (urban and rural), said.

On the rationale behind the move, police said the decision has been taken because the purpose of providing pilot vehicle is primarily to help the protectee navigate to their destination as opposed to escort vehicle which is meant to provide security cover.

"In order to rationalise provision of pilot vehicles, it has therefore, been decided to discontinue provision of pilot vehicles to those protectees/dignitaries on NH-1, who are only transiting through the district, with effect from June 1, 2015.

"In case, however, the dignitary is visiting any place or function within a district falling on NH-1, the district police concerned shall provide a pilot vehicle from the district border to the destination in the said district," it said.

This amendment in the policy of provision of pilot vehicles shall be operationalised with effect from June 1. However, the same will not apply to Z plus category protectees, it further mentioned.

The communique to the concerned police officials further said that mobile escort is provided to various dignitaries and other protectees keeping in view their threat perception, either on account of their official position or specific threat being faced by them.

"The provision of escort vehicle is intrinsically linked with the threat perception and is not in any way linked to protocol requirement," it said.