Udupi: To address the growing shortage of police vehicles in the district, the local MLA and several private companies have come together to provide jeeps through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, offering timely support to the police department. Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said that a total of 12 vehicles have been committed so far by elected representatives and private contributors.
Of the 12 vehicles promised, five have already been received by the police department, while the remaining seven are expected to be delivered within the next one to two weeks. The initiative is aimed at bridging the gap caused by delays in the routine procurement of vehicles through departmental channels.
Acute shortage due to retirement of old vehicles
Explaining the situation, SP Hariram Shankar said police vehicles are usually issued by the department, but there are occasions when delays occur in replacement. “Many police vehicles were retired after completing 15 years of service, which created an acute shortage,” he said.
During such stop-gap periods, which can sometimes extend up to six months, the police department is forced to look for alternative arrangements to maintain basic mobility. Although the police headquarters has procured around 140 vehicles, these are being distributed in phases across the state.
“With prior permission from the department, we decided to bridge the gap through CSR-funded vehicles,” the SP said, adding that a similar initiative had earlier been successfully implemented in Karwar.
Police stations hit by lack of mobility
Several police stations in the district are currently facing urgent shortages of vehicles. The SP pointed out that Kota police station and the Kundapura traffic police unit were left without vehicles after their old ones were retired from service. In addition, two more vehicles were taken off the road by the end of December.
“When basic mobility is affected, policing becomes extremely difficult,” the SP said. He noted that the plan to source vehicles through CSR support was initiated about four months ago after assessing the seriousness of the situation on the ground.
Support from MLAs and MP
The initiative has received strong backing from elected representatives. MLAs Kiran Kumar Kodgi, Yashpal Suvarna, V. Sunil Kumar and Gurme Suresh Shetty extended their support to the effort, helping mobilise resources and connect with potential contributors.
In addition, Udupi–Chikmagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary facilitated the provision of a vehicle through Konkan Railway. Several local industries also stepped forward to assist, including Bolas Agro Private Limited and the Sagar Ratna–Ocean Pearl Group.
Police officials said the cooperation between public representatives, private companies, and the police department has played a crucial role in ensuring that essential policing needs are addressed without delay.
Shortfall still remains
Despite these efforts, the district continues to face a shortage of vehicles. SP Hariram Shankar said that even after all the new vehicles are inducted, the police department will still be short by around 15% of the total requirement.
He expressed hope that additional support from CSR initiatives and timely allocation from the police headquarters would help further ease the situation in the coming months.
Conclusion
The CSR-funded vehicle initiative has provided much-needed relief to the police department at a critical time, ensuring that day-to-day policing is not hampered due to lack of mobility. While challenges remain, officials believe that continued cooperation between the government, elected representatives, and the private sector will help strengthen policing infrastructure and improve public safety.