18 March,2021 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
MSRTC buses lined up at Wadala BEST depot. Pic/ Ashish Raje
BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha on Wednesday alleged a Rs 250 crore electronic ticketing machine scam in the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), thus calling for suspension of tendering process. He also threatened to file public interest litigation (PIL) over the issue.
Kotecha said the MSRTC has been using online ticketing mode and electronic ticketing machines for bus conductors for which tenders are being invited since 2008. The contract for electronic ticketing machines ends in June 2021 and the proposal to invite tenders was cleared at MSRTC board meeting in July 2020. However, there was a delay in approving the clearance by the MSRTC chairman and there was no movement on the file for about seven months.
The BJP leader claimed that it was in February 2021 that the MSRTC chairman allegedly altered the conditions of the contract to suit a particular company which will cost the corporation Rs 250 crore.
"The tendering process for the electronic ticketing machines should be cancelled immediately to avoid loss of public money and if it is not done, there will be no alternative left but to file a public interest litigation," he said.
Kotecha further added, "There needs to be a thorough investigation into the entire process as the diluted conditions of the tender will affect the quality of machines and lead to loss to the state exchequer."
MSRTC officials refused to comment on the issue, while chairman Anil Parab, who also holds the portfolio of the state transport ministry, was not available for comment immediately.
