BBMP failed to reclaim bus shelters, lost Rs 60 crore: Padmanabha Reddy
BENGALURU: The cash-strapped BBMP has incurred a whopping Rs 60 crore loss with the Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) contract expiring about a year ago and BBMP officials not taking the projects back from the contractors, alleged opposition leader in the BBMP council Padmanabha Reddy.
Talking to the media on Monday, he claimed that during 2008-09, around 600 bus shelters were installed on BOOT basis by 12 advertising agencies, which were contracted to operate them for five years. But the lease period of 300 such agencies expired around three years ago and the remaining 300 about a year ago. But BBMP officials have allowed the advertising agencies to continue to change the advertisements displayed at these bus shelters and earning handsome profits.
Demanding a detailed Lokayukta probe into the alleged negligence of BBMP officials, Mr. Reddy said that of the 12 advertising agencies, only one has handed over the shelters back to the BBMP. As officials have not acted on time and collected taxes for displaying advertisements, the Palike has incurred a loss of Rs 60 crore, he alleged.
Ironically, BBMP officials have failed to reclaim the bus stand that is situated right opposite the Palike head office, two bus-stops near Mayo Hall and six near the west zonal office. These bus shelters cannot go unnoticed as senior BBMP officials, including the commissioner, travel on these roads regularly. It is high time that the BBMP reclaimed these shelters and earned revenue, he said.
It appears that the bus shelters were built to favour the advertisement lobby, even though buses do not ply on those roads. Bus shelters at Forum Mall in Koramangala, KFC in Indiranagar, Cauvery Junction on Ballari Road and Chinnaswamy Stadium have been built only to please this lobby, he alleged.
BBMP advertisement wing staff protest, demand mass transfer
A few BBMP employees working in the advertisement wing have alleged harassment at the hands of BBMP Assistant Commissioner (Advertisement) K. Mathai and have sought transfer to other department.
In a letter to BBMP Commissioner G. Kumar Naik, the staff members have alleged that Mr Mathai is mentally harassing them and abusing them of conniving with advertisement agencies. The officer has been sending them notices without reason, they said.
Mr Mathai has been accusing the staff of favouring a few advertising agencies while renewing advertisement contracts and causing huge losses to the BBMP exchequer. “In fact, the BBMP has been suffering losses after Mr Mathai took over as assistant commissioner. He is utilising office time to prepare negative reports against each staff member and sending them to senior officials,” the complaint stated.
BBMP advertisement wing manager B. Lakshmi stated that Mr Mathai has not relieved her, though she has been transferred. She had earlier sought a transfer, citing health reasons and wanted to work from an office closer home. But Mr Mathai rejected her application. “After the government’s decision to ban all advertisements, renewal of advertisement contracts from January 28 and amendment to the BBMP advertisement by-law, there was no clarity on the role of the staff. The work is going at a snail’s pace. When the department is not functioning fully, how can the officials be held responsible,” they asked in their complaint.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Mathai rubbished the allegations and said that he has no intention of troubling anyone. All the allegations are baseless, he said.
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