Nagpur Civic Authority Takes Legal Action Against Private Bus Operators
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) transport committee has taken decisive action against alleged irregularities involving private bus operators, unanimously approving criminal proceedings against three firms for missing bus chassis and equipment. The committee has also authorized the recovery of Rs32.39 lakh from these operators.
Unanimous Decision at Transport Committee Meeting
The crucial decision was made during a meeting held on Thursday at the Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh memorial standing committee hall. The session was chaired by transport committee head Mangala Khekare and attended by committee members alongside senior officials from the transport department.
Background: JNNURM Bus Operations
The controversy centers around buses operated under the central government-funded Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Under this initiative, NMC procured 237 buses for its Aapli Bus city service. The civic body appointed three Red bus operators, with each firm assigned 79 buses for daily operations.
Discovery of Missing Components During Scrapping Process
As part of routine lifecycle management, 123 buses that had completed 15 years of service were recently processed for scrapping. This batch included 49 buses operated by one firm, 15 by another, and 59 by a third operator. However, during a detailed survey conducted prior to scrapping, officials discovered that several bus chassis and onboard components were missing from these vehicles.
Failure to Respond to Notices
Taking serious note of these discrepancies, NMC issued formal notices to all three operators seeking explanations for the missing equipment. Despite receiving these notices, none of the firms responded to the civic body's inquiries, which prompted the decision to initiate legal action.
Quantification of Losses and Recovery Amounts
Following an independent valuation conducted by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), the transport department quantified the financial losses and established specific recovery amounts. The first operator has been directed to pay Rs16.99 lakh, the second operator Rs3.77 lakh, and the third operator Rs11.62 lakh.
Recovery Mechanism and Legal Consequences
Officials clarified that if the operators fail to deposit the recovery amounts within the stipulated timeframe, the dues will be adjusted against their pending payments with NMC. Simultaneously, criminal cases will be formally registered against the firms as ordered by the transport panel.
Additional Committee Decisions
The panel also approved the extension of duties for six contractual staff members by six months. NMC will bear Rs1.48 lakh per month toward their honorarium during this period.
Preventive Security Measures
In another significant decision aimed at preventing similar lapses in the future, the committee approved the deployment of 87 private security guards across NMC's seven bus depots, along with Mor Bhavan 1 and Mor Bhavan 2 premises. These guards will be stationed in three shifts to ensure round-the-clock protection of buses and depot assets.
