Power, Pollution and Politics Interactive: Political Hypocrisy on Vehicle Pollution, India's VIP Cavalcades

India Today

4 days ago

When 19 vehicles in the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's convoy sputtered to a halt after being mistakenly filled with water instead of diesel, the internet had a field day, and the petrol pump felt the heat of the government's machinery. Memes flew, sarcasm poured in, and the incident went viral. But beyond the comedy lay a deeper truth.
India's political and administrative leaders routinely travel in massive, fuel-hungry cavalcades — fleets whose carbon footprints are far larger than they appear in passing. The cavalcades in India are seen as a symbol of power, reach and position.
The Madhya Pradesh incident is a window into the scale, logistics, and environmental burden of government convoys. And nowhere is the contradiction starker than in Delhi, a city where citizens are penalised for using older, and at times low-polluting vehicles — even as the National Capital Territory's own leaders move around in luxury SUVs and multi-car entourages.
Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on National Highway 48 due to the movement of 'Kanwariyas', near Shankar Chowk, in Gurugram. (PTI Photo)
Delhi's struggle with air pollution is no secret. Vehicular emissions contribute heavily to the city's toxic air, especially during winter, when they account for nearly 50% of PM2.5 pollution.
To tackle the crisis, the government has introduced everything from odd-even road rationing and green taxes to a recent and controversial order banning the refuelling of end-of-life vehicles — those older than 10 years (diesel) or 15 years (petrol).
But in a telling move, the July 1, 2025 rollout of that ban was quietly postponed to November, following backlash from citizens and logistical concerns.
The idea was bold, but its withdrawal raised a bigger question: Are the rules really the same for everyone?
While citizens are expected to retire or replace their vehicles, Delhi's top officials continue to travel in long, carbon-intensive cavalcades, most of which run on petrol or diesel.
Here's a closer look at the official fleets in Delhi:
Lieutenant Governor: Five to six vehicles, including Audi/BMW sedans, depending on the LG's choice of travel, Toyota Innova, and Maruti Gypsies form the outer perimeters.
A convoy of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta passes by an ambulance, while leaving the cargo terminal at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. (Photo: PTI)
A convoy of five to six vehicles accompanies the chief minister, with a Gypsy acting as a pilot car.
For instance, MG Gloster is Delhi chief minister's official vehicle, while multiple Innovas follow suit.
The number of vehicles in government convoys varies by state based on available resources, but most, like the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's convoy, typically include at least 7 to 10 vehicles.
A high-security convoy for the Prime Minister typically includes 13 to 17 vehicles, featuring BMWs, Range Rovers, jammer-equipped Toyota Fortuners, a Traveller van, route-clearance vehicles used by DCPs or SDMs, and an ambulance — all forming a tightly coordinated cavalcade.
The fleet mostly remains the same wherever the prime minister travels, be it a state visit, or electoral campaigning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy during his visit to Varanasi. (PTI Photo)
President of India: The largest, with a 41-vehicle cavalcade, including a high-security BMW for the President, multiple security cars, and emergency support units.
Add to this the fleet of gypsies operated by the Delhi Police that act as escorts for road clearance. Sources in the Delhi Police revealed that there are over 300 such end-of-life vehicles in the fleet.
The data was later confirmed in an RTI reply to Newslaundry by the Delhi Police, which stated that 93 petrol vehicles were older than 15 years, and 219 diesel vehicles were over 10 years old.
IndiaToday.in also checked the Pollution Under Control (PUC) of some of these aged vehicles, and most of them had expired years ago with no renewal.
Photo: India Today
Each of these fleets consumes massive amounts of fuel, especially the larger SUVs and jammers, which have poor mileage.
A single kilometre of movement by these cavalcades can emit several kilograms of CO₂, especially in stop-start urban traffic.
Convoy of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren moves on the newly inaugurated Siramtoli flyover, in Ranchi. (Photo: PTI)
The government has justified aggressive moves against polluting vehicles by citing public health, and rightly so.
But even as ordinary citizens are denied fuel or face fines, there's little scrutiny or transparency about the carbon emissions from government fleets.
Most vehicles in these cavalcades are not end-of-life, but that doesn't make them efficient.
A brand-new diesel Fortuner or BMW SUV still emits far more than a small, BS-VI compliant hatchback.
Rahul Gandhi's convoy and security vehicles while he is on padyatra in Sabota Jaffrabad to Alawalpur. (Photo: India Today)
In contrast to the average citizen, government convoys operate daily, often with route clearance teams that idle and loop around for extended periods.
Even the Rs 1,491 crore green tax collected from commercial vehicles entering Delhi between November 2015 and July 2023 seems undercut when official fleets remain exempt from downsizing or transitioning to electric alternatives.
The Madhya Pradesh incident may have been an error, but it inadvertently showcased the vulnerability, cost, and absurdity of maintaining such large fleets for short movements.
The 19-vehicle convoy had to be replaced at short notice, creating further environmental and logistical strain.
For many, the viral images were not just funny—they were symbolic of how bloated and outdated the practice of political convoys has become in a climate-vulnerable country.
PM Narendra Modi's convoy on it's way to India Gate on the ocassion of Republic Day. (Phoot: PTI)
With Delhi's air quality consistently reaching hazardous levels every year, public patience is wearing thin.
People are questioning why rules about emissions, fuel bans, and vehicle retirements apply only to them. The message becomes mixed when the very individuals pushing environmental reforms are seen travelling in fleets of 10, 20, or even 40 vehicles.
Experts and activists are now asking: Why can't official vehicles be electric or hybrid?
Can protocol be balanced with sustainability?
If not now, in 2025, then when?
Convoy of PM Narendra Modi near Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on June 05, 2024. (Photo: Chandradeep Kumar)
India's pollution fight demands difficult choices and shared sacrifices. But if leadership is to mean anything, it must begin with accountability from the top.
Downsizing convoys, transitioning to electric vehicles, and disclosing government fleet emissions are low-hanging fruit that can inspire public trust and actually reduce emissions.
Until then, the contrast remains hard to ignore: a common man's 11-year-old diesel car is too dirty for Delhi, but a 41-car, fossil-fueled convoy isn't.
I won't even mention the chartered plane obsession of our polity.