The upcoming 18th SAARC summit is due to be held later this month in Nepal. Prominent world leaders are expected at the event, hence to ensure their security is not compromised, India shall provide about 6 highly sophisticated armoured vehicles to ferry the leaders attending the event. The vehicles are expected to reach Kathmandu on November 15th, which about a week earlier than the day when the summit shall begin. Khaganath Adhikari, spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Indian government has provides these vehicles free of cost to Nepal.
Apart from these 6 high-end cars, the Nepal Government has also been in talks with private companies in India who can lease out about 32 high-end Mercedes Benz sedans for the summit to ferry dignitaries to the meeting venue. Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi is expected to get his own such car during his visit, whereas Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala reportedly already drives around in one.
Reportedly, the Nepal government shall hire 32 Mercedes Benz cars from Indian companies for a total of about 11 days at a whooping cost of about Rs. 14.5 Million. Besides the rental charges the government shall also be liable to pay local taxes and other expenses. The members participating at the summit would be Maldives, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
