As New Delhi prepares to host the India-Africa summit in October this year, South Block is looking to hire about 300 luxury cars for the visiting African leaders and officials.


South Block officials have devised a unique formula to ensure quality services by the car companies -- based on penalties for every problem or violation.

Sample these:
* Rs 200 fine to be imposed if the car smells and the seat covers are not clean. The fine will be increased to Rs 500 if the car smells for the second day and is found to be unclean.

* Rs 2,000 penalty if the car arrives more than 15 minutes late, Rs 800 if late by 10-15 minutes, Rs 500 if late by up to 10 minutes.

* Rs 500-1,000 penalty if the driver is not dressed "appropriately'.

* Rs 1,000-2,000 penalty if the driver misbehaves.

* Rs 1,000-2,000 penalty in case of tampering of meter.

* Rs 1,000-2,000 penalty in case of irregularities such as overwriting, forged entries in the log book.


These conditions are part of the tender document released by the Ministry of External Affairs last week. South Block is looking at hiring Mercedes Benz E250 or E350 (black or dark colour), BMW 5 series, Audi or Toyota Camry (white) and Toyota Corolla (white) cars for the Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the 54 African countries.

Read the full story here.