Khattar orders vigilance probe into hiring of buses

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has ordered a vigilance inquiry into higher rates for hiring of standard non-AC buses on km basis by Haryana Roadways.

The Transport Department had invited tenders for hiring of 700 buses on km basis. For 510 buses, it received bids between Rs36 and Rs37 per km in 2018. For 190 buses, it received bids between Rs21 and Rs22 per km this year.

“The Chief Minister has called for a vigilance inquiry into higher rates for 510 buses. There cannot be two different rates. The terms of reference for the inquiry are being finalised,” said an official in the Transport Department.

The tender finalisation process for 510 buses between Rs36 and Rs37 per km was completed between September 19 and 21 last year. The rate included 65 per cent as cost of fuel and 35 per cent for repair and maintenance charges, salary of driver, insurance charges and taxes.

The Haryana Roadways Karamchari Talmel Committee, comprising all roadways unions, had opposed it, terming it as a big scam. It called for a vigilance inquiry in a letter to the Chief Minister in October 2018.

It claimed that Haryana Roadways would incur a loss of over Rs132 crore per year. The employees were on strike from October 16 to November 2 last year to oppose the hiring of buses.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of the strike. On its direction, the employees resumed duty on November 2.

Representatives of various roadways unions had submitted in the High Court their objections to the hiring of 510 buses at higher rates.

Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal, in a complaint to the Governor dated December 25 last year, claimed that the state government’s policy of hiring 510 buses would incur a loss of Rs147 crore per year.

He claimed that if the government succeeded in its design, Haryana Roadways would go bankrupt. He alleged that the government had been aiming to give benefits to its favourites.

The process of hiring 190 buses under the km scheme was initiated on February 7. Bids offering a rate of between Rs21 and Rs22 per km were opened on March 5.

In an affidavit in the High Court dated March 13, the government admitted, “One thing is clear from this tender that the rates per km asked for are much lower compared to rates received in earlier tenders for hiring of 510 buses, which have been challenged by employees’ unions.”

It submitted that the decision to hire 190 buses would be futile unless the case challenging the scheme was decided by the High Court. The next date of hearing in the case was April 1.

Sticking point: Price 

• Tender finalisation for 510 buses between Rs 36 and Rs 37 per km completed in September 2018
• Haryana Roadways Karamchari Talmel Committee, comprising all roadways  unions, term it as scam
• Roadways workers go on strike on October 16, resume duty on November 2 on High Court direction
• Process of hiring 190  buses initiated on February 7, rate between Rs 21 and Rs 22 per km offered