Maha Govt Clears ₹12.68 Crore For 44 VIP Vehicles, Including ₹4.07 Crore Armoured Land Cruiser, Amid Drought Concerns

The Maharashtra government has cleared the budget for 44 new vehicles worth ₹12.68 crore to enhance transport facilities for high-profile dignitaries visiting the state. This decision was made despite ongoing drought conditions affecting various regions in Maharashtra. According to a government resolution issued on October 9 by the Protocol Department, the approved purchases include an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 valued at ₹4.07 crore.

The existing fleet has faced operational issues, with several vehicles becoming unserviceable or reaching the end of their operational lifespan. Deterioration of some vehicles has made it challenging to arrange transport for visiting dignitaries. Transport arrangements in Mumbai are overseen by the Government Transport Service in Worli, while other districts are managed by protocol departments attached to district collectorates.

The approved fleet consists of 64 vehicles for Mumbai and 225 for districts outside Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban. Among the 44 vehicles to be procured are 32 Toyota Innova Crysta cars at approximately ₹6.80 crore, two Toyota Fortuner SUVs costing around ₹60 lakh, an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300, seven Maruti Ertiga vehicles valued at around ₹81.14 lakh, one towing vehicle at ₹9 lakh, and one 16-seater Urbania bus priced at ₹31 lakh.

These vehicles will be procured through the Central Government’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal using a single-source procurement method. The government resolution ensures that the purchase adheres to applicable rules and stays within the available funds, with the expenditure met from the budgetary allocation for motor vehicle purchases. The approval of this expenditure comes against the backdrop of widespread drought and crop losses in Maharashtra, where farmers are demanding urgent financial aid.