Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) frequently finds itself entangled in various controversies. The working methods of NMC are often criticized. There have been numerous reports of officer misconduct, tender management irregularities, and various corruption cases. One such issue was raised by West Nagpur MLA and City Congress President Vikas Thakre in the Legislative Assembly through a Point of Order.
MLA Vikas Thakre stated that due to a lack of planning and irregularities, NMC is incurring losses. The tender for purchasing 250 new electric buses was awarded to Evey Trans Company at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore. Additionally, the tender includes a provision for an annual price increase.
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Wednesday12 Feb. 2025
“Due to its lack of planning and irregularities, NMC is incurring an annual loss of Rs 144 crore in running the Nagpur city’s bus service (Aapli Bus). The quality of the city bus service is deteriorating day by day, and the number of passengers is decreasing. Megha Engineering Company has given a donation of Rs 1,000 crore to the ruling parties through electoral bonds. Evey Trans Company, a subsidiary of Megha Engineering Company, was awarded the tender for purchasing 250 new electric buses by NMC for Rs 1,300 crore, Thakre said.
The Congress MLA said that despite the 2024 Lok Sabha election code of conduct being in force, the NMC Administrator made this decision and extended the tender process deadline to open the financial bid, even with a single bidder. Investigating this process would reveal the complete irregularities. There was no necessity for any annual fare increase provision in the city bus service, yet the tender includes an annual price increase for the benefit of the company.
Four to five renowned companies in the bus manufacturing sector are interested in participating in this process. If this process is conducted again, the Municipal Corporation stands to gain crores of rupees. However, the administrator’s efforts seem focused on favouring a single company, hence Thakre has demanded to immediately cancel this tender process.
