Luxury vehicles for CWG to have special numbers

Come October and you will see luxury cars sporting unique numbers to ferry delegates during the Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi government has proposed an exclusive registration number series for the 2,000-odd cars the Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) is procuring for VIPs and other delegates for the Commonwealth Games.

A senior Delhi government official said that the series is likely to start with the letters CWG, abbreviation for the sporting event used globally, followed by numbers 0-2000.

Though no final decision has been taken yet, chances are that these vehicles will continue to have this special number as legacy of the Games.

Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said that special numbers will help police and OC members identify vehicles catering to delegates and other VIPs, especially in wake of security curbs during the event.

The cars will include sedans and more luxurious cars for VIPs like visiting heads of states. There will be limited number of super luxury, bulletproof cars for VVIPs. The cars will have distinct colours and the Games logo.

Sources said these cars would be `sponsored' by one of the three Indian car manufaturers. Since these cars would be later sold through dealers, the OC wants brand-value associated with the fleet. A unique registration number would add to the brand value, a Delhi government official said.

During the Melbourne Games, Toyota had sponsored cars and later sold them as special edition cars.

The transport department has already written to the ministry of road transport and highways seeking its permission to start this series of unique numbers.

"It would require amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act to have unique series for which transport officials have been directed to write to the union ministry," a Delhi government official said.