New Delhi: General Transporter DTC Delhi has suffered more losses than Rs 1,000 Crore every year since 2015, although it cannot add even a bus to the existing fleet, the transportation department tells the Delhi assembly.
The City of AAP-LED government also denied reports that the extra number of RS 1,000 Crore must be paid to a manufacturer of 1,000 low floor buses built by DTC, for a comprehensive annual maintenance contract.
These statements were given by the city government transportation department in the Delhi assembly, in a written reply, for a question by BJP MLA Vijender Gupta on Thursday.
The Monsun session from the Delhi Assembly concluded on Friday.
In return for another question by BJP Mla Ajay Mahawar, the Department of Transportation said The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) had not bought any bus after 2015.
Meanwhile, under the integrated multi-capital transit system (DIMTS) operated, 1,387 buses were purchased after 2015, the department said.
In the past six years, DTC suffered losses of Rs 1,019.36 Crore in 2014-15, Rs 1,250.15 Crore in 2015-16, Rs 1,381.78 Crore in 2016-17, Rs 1.730.02 Crore in 2018-19.
According to temporary estimates for 2019-20, the loss reached Rs 1,834.67 Crore, he said.
Work orders for the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by DTC are issued for two producers, but the process has been detained by the Department of Transportation.
In return for Gupta’s question, the department denied that the two producers had to be paid an extra 1,000 crore Hospital for a comprehensive annual maintenance contract (CAMC) for the initial three years, saying it was given transparently through open tenders.
A committee formed by LG Anil Baijal has found “procedural irregularities” in the contract.
This problem has now been referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs by LG for follow-up action.
The Department of Transportation further confirms that their bus and CAMC guarantees are different things.
“Warranty includes manufacturing defects, while maintenance related activities are not part of it included in the CAMC,” he said.
BJP MLA Vijender Gupta questioned why RS 1,000 crore extra paid on behalf of maintenance costs despite a three-year warranty on the bus.
“Terms and conditions of the Tender CAMC issued by the DTC are the same.
These terms and conditions are similar to those in the tender issued by the DTC in 2006 and 2008,” said the Department of Transportation.
This adds that the general condition of the contract for the CAMC 1,000 low-floor buses clearly says that the contractor must do all the work related to maintenance.
CAMC includes preventive maintenance, general wear, major and small repairs, remodel the assembly and sub assemblies, damage, damage due to fire, replacement of obsolete tires, repair of the bus body and get a fitness and pollution control certificate, he said.
Nearly 71 routine maintenance activities can be considered as part of the CAMC which is not the warranty part.
These activities are “illustrations” rather than “complete” so that it cannot be included in the tender, the transportation department is added in a reply.