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Mumbai: In January this year the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) committee approved the induction of 900 air-conditioned double-decker electric buses on wet lease in its fleet of buses. It was considered to be a ‘dream project’ of Maharashtra Environment minister Aaditya Thackeray.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now alleged a scam in the contract awarding process of the 900 e-buses. BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha has alleged that the e-buses project is a means to favour the company that received the contract worth about Rs 2,800 crore.
The BJP leader also said that the Centre grants Rs 3,600 to the state government under Clean Air Campaign and the e-buses project is an attempt to ‘rob’ this money.
“I want to ask this question to Environment minister Aaditya Thackeray whether the e-buses contract is for the benefit of Mumbaikars or the company Kosis E Mobility,” Kotecha said.
Kotecha further remarked, “The central government grants Rs 3,600 crore under Clean Air Campaign so that Mumbaikars can get fresh air. However, here it looks like a ploy by the Maharashtra Government to rob that money by favouring individual contractors.”
The BJP MLA further added, “Earlier the proposal was for 200 double-decker e-buses and later it was increased to 400 e-buses. Now, they have approved the proposal for 900 e-buses. I want to ask Aaditya Thackeray whether he has done any ground reality checks and thinks 900 double-decker buses can ply on Mumbai roads. The company that bagged the contract has a share capital of just Rs 1 lakh. This violates Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) regulations.”
Kotecha has also said that he will be filing a complaint against the e-buses project with Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and if needed be approach the court of law.
“Only tenders have been passed so far but no work order has been issued. If the work order is issued, we will file a complaint against it with the CAG and knock on the door of the court,” Kotecha added.
