Hyderabad: If KCR can do it, Naidu can do it even better seems to be the motto of the two competing neighbouring states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Soon after Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s acquisition of a luxury air-conditioned Mercedes Benz bus has triggered a controversy, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu is also in the process of adding a similar vehicle to his collection.
Like in KCR’s case, the bus manufactured by Mercedes Benz was undergoing extra fittings at the JCBL Company’s workshop at Chandigarh and was expected to be delivered soon.
Special emphasis was laid on making it an impenetrable fortress by making its body and windows bullet and blast proof. It will also have special tyres, which will be able to withstand powerful blasts and even after suffering damages they can run for 30 to 50 kms.
The facilities include a bedroom, rest room and a meeting hall with a seating capacity of up to 8 people. The office space in the bus will have a TV set, fax machine, a printer and internet and WiFi connectivity.
Naidu will also have a special seat in the front row of the bus with a provision for two security guards to sit behind him.
Officials said Naidu will use the bus for his district tours and will spend the night in it at places that do not have suitable guesthouse facilities for the chief minister.
Though Naidu has already been using such a vehicle, officials say the new vehicle with 9-ton AC unit will be far superior in terms of comfort, facilities and security.
While KCR’s bus cost Rs50 million, officials did not reveal the price of Naidu’s acquisition.
While the opposition Congress party had objected to the spending of money by the Telangana government on KCR’s new, the Telugu Desam Party had unusually kept quiet. Now Naidu’s new bus explains why the TDP leaders were not critical of KCR.
KCR used his new vehicle on Friday to travel to Chilkur village in Ranga Reddy district for launching the ‘Haritha Haaram’ tree plantation programme.
