Rajasthan Roadways tender faces corruption accusations

Rajasthan Roadways is facing a controversy over the tender for contract buses. Allegations are being made of favouring private bus operators by adding some conditions to the tender continuously.
In this regard, a complaint of corruption in the tender has reached the Lokayukta. In this, action has been demanded against Executive Director Transport Sanjeev Kumar Pandey while questioning his work. It is also stated in the complaint that Pandey is about to retire this month. In this regard, the Rajasthan Transport Labor Congress INTUC has demanded immediate action. Along with Pandey, a complaint has also been filed against the retired Executive Manager Pankaj Kapoor, who retired in May. Organisation’s General Secretary Hanuman Sahay Bhardwaj sent the complaint to the Lokayukta’s office, stating that this fiscal year, the rates for taking contract buses on Rajasthan Roadways are much higher than in previous years. These rates range from Rs 5.13 to Rs 14.29 per kilometre. The allegation is that despite the unusual rates, Executive Director Transport Sanjeev Kumar Pandey has issued a letter of intent (LOI) to the firms.

Loss of Rs 100 crore
The complaint states that in the financial year of Rajasthan Roadways, the rates of taking buses on a contract are much higher this year. These rates range from Rs 5.13 to Rs 14.29 per kilometre. The accusation is that despite the rates being extraordinary, Executive Director Transport Sanjeev Kumar Pandey issued a Letter of Intent (LOI).

An accusation of benefiting private bus operators
The complaint states that Executive Manager Pankaj Kapoor retired in May this year. The retirement of Sanjeev Kumar is about to take place this month. In this case, both officers tried to benefit private bus operators by taking express buses on a contract with the corporation. These officers included provisions in the tender, which would benefit private bus operators in every situation. The cost of this will have to be borne by Rajasthan
Roadways.

In 2016, the same rate was close to seven rupees
It is worth noting that in 2015-16 when tenders were issued at the headquarters, the same rate for the entire state was Rs 7. The same rate increased to nearly Rs 9 in the next fiscal year. Whereas, this time, it has been taken up to a maximum of Rs 14.29. While the minimum rate includes buses from depots such as Jaisalmer-Badmer, which have very few buses. Buses at a minimum rate are included, which receive a running payment of 400 kilometres per bus daily. In other words, no matter how much the bus runs, they will be paid for 400 kilometres.