Rough ride ahead for city’s civic body babus

Rough ride ahead for city’s civic body babus


N R Madhusudhan First Published : 31 Jul 2010 06:35:29 AM ISTLast Updated : 31 Jul 2010 11:40:17 AM IST
BANGALORE: The babus will have to brave it out.
Cars will soon be at a premium for the mandarins of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The Palike has decided to terminate service contracts for 83 vehicles that were hired by it regularly for the past nine years.
The move is expected to save the BBMP `1.5 crore every year.
Leading the way is BBMP Commissioner S Siddaiah.
According to sources, two of the three vehicles allotted to the commissioner were part of the list of vehicles that will have to go. The commissioner has decided to use only one official car, said sources.
Also, many officials enjoying the perk of a private vehicle will now have to see their car go, said sources, adding that sometimes even personal assistants of officers were given cars.
Since 2001, the BBMP has been maintaining a fleet of 541 vehicles for various purposes, including garbage collection.
On an average, the Palike spends `15,400 on each vehicle per month, said a source.
By this estimation, returning 83 vehicles will save the corporation `12.78 lakh every month and `1.53 crore in a year.
The BBMP has, since 2001, paid `14 crore for the 83 vehicles that, it now has decided, “are not needed”.
“Some of the officials were using these vehicles for personal purposes,” said a BBMP official who did not wish to be identified. “The commissioner personally identified many such vehicles and has directed us to return them immediately.” The official said the Palike had entered into contracts for one year at the beginning of this financial year, but will start returning the vehicles by the end of this month.