The government has urged top VIPs to hand over their vehicles for movement of heads of states of the seven member states arriving here for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit later this month.

A security and transport sub-committee headed by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has urged the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, Speaker of the Federal Parliament and National Assembly, Chief Justice, Ministers and Secretaries among others to hand over their vehicles or additional vehicles.

The government is making alternative arrangements for ministers, secretaries and VIPs who have one vehicle, an official told the Post.As vehicles for head of states require high security features, the government has sought vehicles of top officials. It plans to hire vehicles from the private sector as well.“We decided to make use of our own resources as such vehicles are expensive and will not be used frequently once the summit ends,” the official said. “Some of the vehicles are already being coloured. Tinted glasses are being fit in all vehicles.”

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-Cha, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena and President of Myanmar Win Myint are participating in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on August 30 and 31.

Indian and Thai prime ministers arrive in Kathmandu on August 30 in chartered planes. PM Modi is likely to get his own vehicle from New Delhi, the official said. Six high security vehicles are required to move the heads of states. PM KP Sharma Oli will use his vehicle.