Ex-king's car, 275 security personnel to President

The government has made arrangements to deploy 275 Nepal Army (NA) personnel under the command of a brigadier as presidential security.

Officials at the Home Ministry said army personnel deputed for presidential security will also carry out ceremonial functions including during presentation of credentials by foreign ambassadors, and will be in the presidential convoy.

Similarly, the government has decided to use the bullet-proof car of ousted king Gyanendra as President's official vehicle. According to the ministry, that vehicle to be used by the President is not required to have any registration number plate. Instead, such vehicles will have the country's coat-of-arms in lieu of number plate.

Ministry officials said the decision is in line with general practice in other countries where vehicles of the head of state are exempted from registration number plates. However, other vehicles used by the President other than that would have number plates.
Following an order from Constituent Assembly Monday afternoon, the NA has already started surveillance work at Shital Niwas.

In yet another decision, the government has decided to accommodate the country's first president, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, at the Ministerial Quarters at Pulchowk, Lalitpur, until the official presidential residence Shital Niwas (see photo) is ready, officials said.

But President-elect Dr Yadav stayed at his rented flat in Bagdol, Lalitpur on Monday, according security sources.

Officials said it will take some time to prepare Shital Niwas as residence for the president.

However, Dr Yadav's office is ready, according to Dr Ram Hari Aryal, secretary at the Office of the President. The necessary departments and divisions at the office are yet to be separated. "We will make these arrangements as per our needs," Dr Aryal said.

Shital Niwas is currently occupied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Work is underway to shift the ministry to Narayanhiti Palace. Officials said it will take some time to renovate and develop the infrastructure necessary for a presidential residence once the ministry is evacuated.

Likewise, the cabinet has authorized the Office of the President to use former royal palace staff at the President's residence and office according to necessity.