Nagpur Civic Body Imposes Heavy Penalties on Private Bus Operators Over Missing Spare Parts
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's general body meeting witnessed a sharp and intense debate regarding the disappearance of critical spare parts from several scrapped city buses. The civic administration has officially confirmed that substantial financial penalties will be imposed on the private operators responsible for the missing components.
Allegations of Missing Engines and Parts During Bus Auction
Raising the contentious issue, ruling party leader Narendra, also known as Balya Borkar, presented detailed allegations. He stated that during the auction process of 240 buses originally procured under the JNNURM scheme, a significant number of vehicles were discovered to be without their engines and other key spare parts. Borkar emphasized that these buses, which were over 15 years old, had been auctioned following proper valuation procedures. However, the absence of major components raised serious questions about accountability and oversight.
Furthermore, Borkar challenged the ongoing financial support provided to private operators, despite the city's transport system reportedly incurring consistent losses. This point added fuel to the already heated discussion about fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency within Nagpur's public transit framework.
Administration's Detailed Response and Imposed Penalties
In response to the allegations, Mayor Neeta Thakre directed the civic administration to provide a comprehensive clarification to the house. Transport Manager Meghna Vasanakar delivered a detailed account, informing members that three of the buses had been destroyed in separate fire incidents. The remaining 237 buses were auctioned in two distinct phases: 123 buses in the first phase and 114 in the second phase.
Vasanakar confirmed that during thorough inspections, spare parts and engines were indeed found missing from a considerable number of buses. She provided a specific breakdown of the discrepancies:
- Travel Time operator: Parts missing from 59 buses
- Hansa operator: Parts missing from 49 buses
- RK City operator: Parts missing from 15 buses
Accordingly, the civic administration has imposed significant penalties on the operators. Travel Time faces a penalty of Rs 11.62 lakh, Hansa is penalized Rs 16.99 lakh, and RK City must pay Rs 3.77 lakh. Vasanakar assured the house that these amounts will be recovered from the respective operators without delay.
Calls for FIR and Broader Operational Review
The meeting saw further demands for stringent action. Former transport committee chairman Bandu Raut insisted that a First Information Report (FIR) should be registered against the operators, alleging outright theft of the missing parts. Transport Manager Vasanakar responded by assuring the house that appropriate legal and administrative actions would be taken as necessary.
Meanwhile, another former transport committee chairman, Jitendra Kukde, introduced a different dimension to the discussion. He demanded a comparative analysis of the daily revenue generated during the tenure of the previous operator versus the current Chalo app-based system. This highlights broader concerns about the financial performance and technological integration of Nagpur's city transport services.
Mayor's Directive for Comprehensive Probe
Mayor Neeta Thakre concluded the discussion with firm directives. She stated that if any irregularities are uncovered in either the bus auction process or the ongoing operations, a detailed and thorough probe must be conducted immediately. Strict action should be taken against any concerned officials found negligent or complicit.
Furthermore, Mayor Thakre directed the transport department and the transport committee to jointly review the entire matter. This collaborative review aims to ensure transparency, prevent future occurrences, and restore public trust in the management of Nagpur's civic assets and transportation infrastructure.
