Chennai: Turning the tables on DMK working president M.K. Stalin on his recent statement that the AIADMK government had pledged Pallavan house for Rs 7.50 crore, transport minister, M.R Vijayabhaskar on Wednesday said the assets of transport department mortgaged during the DMK regime amounted to '30.50 crore, which is nearly five times the current mortgaged amount.
“From 1997 to 2007, DMK government pledged both the bus depots and stands at Ayanavaram and Mandaiveli for Rs 2 crore, Anna Nagar and Ambattur depots and bus stands and Patullas Road depot for Rs 20 crore, Basin bridge depot for Rs 1 crore, Thiruvanmiyur depot and bus stand for five crore and Pallavan House for Rs 2.50 crore at different banks including Canara, Indian Overseas, Vijaya,
UCO and Indian bank,” he said.
Vijayabhaskar also pointed out that only 10 new depots were built during the DMK rule between 2006 and 2011 whereas AIADMK had inaugurated 42 new depots.
Regarding the monetary settlements to the staff, DMK had an outstanding retirement benefit of Rs 922.24 crore from 2006-11, but AIADMK’s dues stand at Rs 1,231.96 crore from 2011.
“Also, they have settled only Rs 928.86 crore, while we gave Rs 3,050.34 crore which is three times the amount they cleared. The basic salary was Rs 21,003 in DMK;s regime and the current government gave a 90 per cent increment and it now stands at Rs 39,945 crore.
This was done at a time when operational costs have increased considerably,” he said. He further added that the transport department had introduced new facilities including Amma Water to supply drinking water at a subsidised price and small buses to cater to interior areas of the city.
