Bengaluru: Karnataka police may soon explore a shift from outright buying to a rental or leasing model for its vehicle fleet, with the state govt examining whether such an arrangement can help overcome the financial and operational challenges associated with maintaining a large fleet of police vehicles.Exploring possibilities, home minister Priyank Kharge Thursday held discussions with officials from the police department’s communications, logistics and modernisation wing and representatives of more than 20 automobile and two-wheeler manufacturers.The latest idea of the state govt comes against the backdrop of the police department’s growing mobility requirements for patrolling, law-and-order duties, emergency response, investigations and other field operations. “Govt’s goal is not merely to buy vehicles; our priority is to improve police efficiency while using public money wisely. Instead of incurring a heavy capital expense at one time, we will examine every option that allows vehicles to be added quickly based on departmental needs and managed more effectively in terms of usage and maintenance,” Kharge pointed out.Officials and automobile manufacturers discussed the feasibility of introducing different categories of vehicles under a rental or leasing arrangement, including electric vehicles and conventional petrol or diesel vehicles.Govt is, however, yet to take a final decision. The proposal is significant for the police department, which requires vehicles not only for senior officers, but also for police stations, patrol teams, investigation units, traffic enforcement, armed units and emergency response. Maintaining such a fleet involves recurring expenditure on fuel, servicing, repairs, insurance and replacement of ageing vehicles.The minister, however, clarified that the state intends to ensure that the arrangement does not merely transfer the expenditure from capital procurement to recurring rental costs without delivering corresponding efficiency gains.The move, according to police officers, is part of govt’s broader effort to modernise the police force and strengthen its operational infrastructure. The proposed model for vehicle management is expected to be evaluated alongside requirements for technology, communications and other logistical support.
