good motoring
Stamp of power
H. Kishie Singh

Let’s reduce wasteful consumption of petrol" said the Prime Minister making the whole sarkari machinery go into an overdrive. Immediate steps are taken to save money and petrol. So foreign jaunts of several VIPs are cancelled and ministers cycle to work. But the key question is, do such measures really help in saving money and precious petrol? Actually, a lot of money can be saved if our VIPs resist the temptation to ‘deck up’ sarkari cars.

The shops selling car accessories in Sector 27 and 28 in Chandigarh thrive on this sarkari clientele.

The moment a new official car is bought for a VIP, be it a bureaucrat, a police officer or an army officer, it vrooms to the accessory shop. The owner seems to forget the fact that the vehicle has just come out of the showroom, pre-delivery inspection (PDI) has been carried out so the car is completely road worthy.

But it has to bear the ‘stamp of power’ so here is the transformation that takes place. The factory fitted horns are removed and new ones are installed. Sometimes the original one is retained and an extra set is fitted on the bumper. A special switch is fitted which allows the driver to select which horn to blow (as per his mood).

A flag pole is fitted on the mudguard or bonnet. A red light is fitted on the roof even though it is illegal in most cases. As if that’s not enough, another smaller red light is fitted on the bonnet too. The windows get a ‘coat’ of dark film. Next comes a hooter that makes funny and rude sounds while reversing. In any country where traffic rules are enforced diligently, the driver would be arrested for being a public nuisance.

Then there are some more stickers proclaiming Government of Haryana, Government of India or Bharat Sarkar. These are affixed on the rear windscreen, on the bonnet and both number plates. The number plates also have a red line to show off this message. And mind you all this is illegal as a number plate is supposed to have only the registration number written on it. But here the law enforcerers also flout norms. Police gypsies also have Punjab Police, Haryana Police stickers.

The Gypsy comes without a music system, but it is common to see a music system in these. Did the policeman pay for it? Certainly not. You, the taxpayer did. Police Gypsys also have fancy tyres and chrome hubcaps. Another accessory in the Ambassador is a leather-wrapped or wooden gear shift knob. Then comes the white terry towel upholstery. The manufacturer supplies very good quality fabric upholstery these days, even in the Ambassador cars. The concealing curtains on the doors and rear windows are in clear violation of the rules. Special armrests are built for the back seat. Bottle holders, cup holders and other fitments are also put in place to complete the plush look.

The piece de resistance is the rear view mirror. The factories fitted outside rear-view mirrors, ORVM, on the doors are removed and fancy chrome ones are put. And that’s not all, two more are fitted on the front mudguards. The one inside is retained. So now the car has five rear view mirrors. An 18-wheel truck may need five ORVMs but certainly not an Ambassador running in the city.

This metamorphosis costs anywhere between Rs 40,000 to 60,000 per car. And it’s all for show and to intimidate the aam-admi and of course the attendant at the toll-booth and parking lot. "Yeh sarkari gaadi hai, no payment !" Happy Motoring.