SPG budgetary allocation up by about 20 per cent

The budgetary allocation for the elite Special Protect Group, which guards the Prime Minister, former PMs and their immediate families, has been increased by 20 per cent.

The financial proposals for the elite force, which has been bringing in modern equipment, has been pegged at Rs 252.07 crore for 2010-11 as against Rs 211.92 crore during 2009-10.

The SPG provides proximate security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and their families besides guarding Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.

The 3,000-strong force has been pressing for an aircraft for long in order to meet its needs for carrying out security-related operations ahead of a VVIP visit. Keeping this in mind, the budgetary proposal of the SPG has been increased by 19.43 per cent this year.

The SPG was looking for an aircraft in Europe and the US to allow it to carry out Advance Security Liaison (ASL) teams ahead of a VVIP visit, official sources said.

The SPG, which was earlier known as Special Protection Unit, used to take aircraft from Aviation Research Centre (ARC) of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) but has been facing some problems of late.