Minister promises inquiry into buses purchased during BJP, Congress tenures

  • | Wednesday | 12th December, 2018

However, the Congress said the BJP split the cost of bus and its annual maintenance cost. The cost of bus is Rs 76 lakh and maintenance is Rs 78 lakh, he said. He said a grant of Rs 63 crore, meant for maintenance of buses, had also lapsed during Congress’s rule.In the past five years, 2,101 buses were purchased and a loan of Rs 260.50 crore was taken for it.The minister said the Congress purchased an electric bus at the rate of Rs 1.96 crore with its annual maintenance cost 36 lakh per year, and BJP purchased the same for Rs 76 lakh. This is because the ruling BJP is going to purchase about 80 electric buses.Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said the annual maintenance of electric buses was more than their actual cost and asked the minister to not only hold inquiry during the Congress regime, but also for the BJP.The minister said he an inquiry will be initiated in both the purchases. DHARAMSHALA: Congress and BJP MLAs demanded an inquiry into the purchase of buses in Himachal Pradesh on the second day of the state assembly’s winter session on Tuesday, following which the ruling BJP government promised an inquiry into buses procured during its regime and the previous Congress government.The state government also said it would release a white paper in two months on all buses purchased since January 1, 2013.BJP MLA Rakesh Pathania moved a question, asking the government to provide details of buses bought through a loan of around Rs 300 crore and why hundreds of buses were not being used.Replying to the question, transport minister Govind Thakur said private transporters had moved the Supreme Court and got a stay on the buses’ movement, because of which newly-purchased buses were stranded.He said 185 buses were idle, but they would start functioning soon as the issue is nearing its resolution.BJP MLAs also objected to the Congress purchasing buses at higher prices and demanded a white paper on the same.Congress MLAs objected to the allegation and asked the state government to hold an inquiry on both purchases.

DHARAMSHALA: Congress and BJP MLAs demanded an inquiry into the purchase of buses in Himachal Pradesh on the second day of the state assembly’s winter session on Tuesday, following which the ruling BJP government promised an inquiry into buses procured during its regime and the previous Congress government.The state government also said it would release a white paper in two months on all buses purchased since January 1, 2013.BJP MLA Rakesh Pathania moved a question, asking the government to provide details of buses bought through a loan of around Rs 300 crore and why hundreds of buses were not being used.Replying to the question, transport minister Govind Thakur said private transporters had moved the Supreme Court and got a stay on the buses’ movement, because of which newly-purchased buses were stranded.He said 185 buses were idle, but they would start functioning soon as the issue is nearing its resolution.BJP MLAs also objected to the Congress purchasing buses at higher prices and demanded a white paper on the same.Congress MLAs objected to the allegation and asked the state government to hold an inquiry on both purchases. This is because the ruling BJP is going to purchase about 80 electric buses.Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said the annual maintenance of electric buses was more than their actual cost and asked the minister to not only hold inquiry during the Congress regime, but also for the BJP.The minister said he an inquiry will be initiated in both the purchases. He said a grant of Rs 63 crore, meant for maintenance of buses, had also lapsed during Congress’s rule.In the past five years, 2,101 buses were purchased and a loan of Rs 260.50 crore was taken for it.The minister said the Congress purchased an electric bus at the rate of Rs 1.96 crore with its annual maintenance cost 36 lakh per year, and BJP purchased the same for Rs 76 lakh. However, the Congress said the BJP split the cost of bus and its annual maintenance cost. The cost of bus is Rs 76 lakh and maintenance is Rs 78 lakh, he said.

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