Paradip: Jagatsinghpur police have conferred antique status to out-of-service van by adorning it atop the district reserve police building.

It is an attempt to preserve the age-old jeeps for posterity as a memorabilia. The district police use modern fast-paced vehicles for patrolling and crime control. The old vans dating back to decades had turned into junkyard. These decades-old vans turned dysfunctional and were of no use. There were also no takers during the auctioning of these defunct vehicles. So, we thought to preserve them as an object of antiquity, said Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police, Jai Narayan Pankaj.

The van adorned atop the reserve police office is also drawing curious visitors especially children.

It's a novel step on part of the police. Good old things need to be preserved. The police need to be commended for preserving the old van, said Rakesh Mohanty, a local college student. The van,ó which has been preserved for its antique value was withdrawn as it had crossed 15-year life span by covering 2.40km as per the Odisha Motor Vehicle Act provisions. Instead of dumping it in the junkyard, it was preserved as a memorabilia as decided by the superintendent of police, said reserve police inspector, Satyakanta Jena.

About Rs 30,000 was spent from contingency fund to refurbish it and give it a new look. The district police have also three other old model jeeps, which have been withdrawn from service. These vehicles will also be preserved in other police stations of the district because of its anótique character, Jena said.

The van installed atop the reserve police building was in operation in Paradip police station area earlier.

The police officials often preferred the particular jeep in night patrolling and raids, as it was free from breakdown or technical glitch.