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The vehicle, which is able to secure the occupants from landmine blasts to Kalashnikov's bullets, is likely to be Modi's official vehicle if he does not decide otherwise.
NEW DELHI: One legacy Narendra Modi is likely to inherit from his predecessor Manmohan Singh is his cavalcade, including the specially designed armored BMW 7 series — the most secured vehicle in the country.
The special protection group (SPG) which manages these vehicles may, however, go for slight changes or decide to go for a new one as per the new prime minister's choice.
The vehicle, which is able to secure the occupants from landmine blasts to Kalashnikov's bullets, is likely to be Modi's official vehicle if he does not decide otherwise. This saloon can run for kilometers even on flat tyres and are fitted with advance heat sensors to ward off missiles and bombs as well, say sources.
While the fuel tanks are made such that they don't explode during an attack, its cabin also turns into a gas-proof chamber and ensures oxygen supply to secure the occupant in cases of gas attacks, a source familiar with the vehicle said.
Modi, who in most likelihood will arrive at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in his Scorpio, will come under the SPG cover immediately after taking the oath and hence be travelling in this BMW along with commandos form the elite unit SPG, some of whom have specially been deputed from Gujarat police, sources in the security establishment said. The lead SPG agent which sits in front passenger seat of the prime minster's car is speculated to be from the Gujarat unit, a source said.
Modi has been using Mahindra Scorpio for long but it would be interesting whether he opts for it as prime minister as well. An ex-SPG officer says that Scorpio may not go well with PM level security because of its height but ultimately choice is PM's.
Anticipating the D-Day, a covert unit of SPG, a source added, has been working on the security apparatus for Modi since January.
The SPG cover model and the unit's Blue Book are likely to undergo some additions and get personalized for Modi as he is the most risked PM after Rajiv Gandhi. Some of the changes may include increasing the number of dummy BMWs in the cavalcade and installing newer intelligence and communication features in the satellite phone and jammers, the source said.
Around nine cars are expected to be in Modi's cavalcade apart from a unit of bomb squad vehicle. Out of these at least two are likely to be identical BMWs to act as decoys and another five BMWs and others for the escorts. The SPG will also enhance the dummy routes for the PM's convoy from that of Manmohan Singh due to the difference in their threat perception.
The SPG is also likely to have the Air India One, the call-sign of any aircraft carrying the Prime Minister of India, to suit the security assessment and travel needs of Narendra Modi who is known to be a frequent traveler for work purposes.
Manmohan's legacy for Modi: A specially-designed fleet of BMW series - The Times of India
