Govt to spend Rs 500cr on modernisation of paramilitary forces

Arms, ammunition and vehicles worth Rs 500 crore will be procured by the Centre for the country's seven paramilitary forces by September end.     

According to the Action Plan -II of the Ministry of Home Affairs, orders worth Rs 500 crore will be processed by the Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMFs) and Ministry of Home Affairs.     

Action plans of all seven CPMFs — CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles — have been approved and the actual procurement will be made soon, it said.     

Review meetings will be done with the CPMFs to anticipate and remove potential bottlenecks.     

A total of Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated in the current fiscal for the seven CPMFs under the five provisioning heads — arms and ammunition, clothing, tentage and stores, machinery and equipment and vehicles and IT.     

The Ministry has already finalised the process of procurement of interceptor boats for coastal security scheme. The annual maintenance contract for these boats and procurement of ten 12-ton interceptor boats for Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be made by August 30.     

The government will also take approval of competent authority for the courier service for personnel of CPMFs by July 15.