Patna: The Bihar government has approved a Rs 15.99 crore scheme to procure new bulletproof vehicles, in a move aimed at strengthening the security of state leaders and visiting dignitaries.
The Home Department has cleared the proposal, entrusting the Transport Department with its implementation. The new vehicles, designed to withstand AK-47 bullets, explosions, and even gas attacks, will be added to the convoy fleets of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.
According to officials, the vehicles will not be restricted to the use of the Chief Minister and Governor alone. Deputy Chief Ministers, senior police officers, and VVIP guests such as the President and Prime Minister during their visits to Bihar will also have access to them.
The decision comes against the backdrop of limited resources, with the state currently operating only six bulletproof vehicles—two of which are aging models. Four vehicles were purchased four years ago, but shifting security dynamics have heightened the need for additional and more advanced protection for VVIPs.
At present, Nitish Kumar primarily uses a non-bulletproof Hyundai Ioniq 5, valued at around Rs 50 lakh, for his movements within Patna. For travel outside the city, he relies on a bulletproof Tata Safari.
