In an indication of the growing confidence levels between India and China, the Army Headquarters has plans to go in for a restructuring of its six commands and has proposed conversion of the Central Command into a purely logistics formation.To this end, the Army top brass made a presentation before the Finance Ministry early this month, pitching for the creation of a South-Western Command that will be in-charge of the area extending from Abohar-Fazilka in Punjab to Ranjitsinh Pura in the Jaisalmer-Bikaner sector. For the purpose, the Army has suggested the redeployment of troops in the present security set-up without the recruitment of more personnel.At present, the Army has North, West, South, Eastern, Central and Training Commands.It is learnt that the Army plans to take out the Mathura-based 1 Strike Corps from the Allahabad-based Central Command and place it under the proposed South-Western Command that will look after the semi-arid terrain. A key strike formation under the Central Command is also likely to be moved to Jammu and Kashmir. According to the proposal, the Indo-Tibet border will be left to the Shashastra Sena Bal, with the 33 Corps in Siliguri guarding the Cooch Behar corridor.Under the new proposal, in times of conflicts, the Central Command will coordinate with the Avadhi-based heavy vehicles factory for tanks, the Peroleum Ministry for fuels and lubricants, and the Civil Supplies Department for its troops and machinery.The suggestions which form part of the proposal will be fine-tuned at the Army Commanders’ Conference scheduled for October 25, which will be inaugurated by Army Chief Gen N.C. Vij.In case the Finance Ministry gives the green signal for creation of the South-Western Command, the area between Abohar-Fazilka and Jammu will be looked after by the Chandimandir-based Western Command, and the area south of Ranjitsinh Pura, that includes the Desert Corps, will come under the Pune-based Southern Command.The proposal to create the South-Western Command was mooted after the Finance Ministry showed indifference to another Defence Ministry proposal for a North-Western Command last month. The Finance Ministry, however, gave its clearance to the Army for streamlining its Nagrota-based 16 Corps by creating another 17 Corps, which will guard the chicken-neck area in Akhnoor-Chhamb sector.
