New Delhi:

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Wednesday rapped Delhi government for spending Rs 19000 crore nowhere. It also slammed Kejriwal government for poor performance in several of his departments including transport and mid-day meals.

“Inadequate” planning for e-challaning project on part of Delhi Government’s department of transport (DoT) resulted in blockade of funds worth Rs 1.47 crore, Government auditor CAG observed in its report.

According to CAG, audit scrutiny of department records showed that DoT associated Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS) in the implementation of the project, though no formal agreement was signed between the two parties in 2010.

On the advice of DIMTS, which was endorsed by enforcement wing, the DoT purchased 40 tough books, as many printers, 80 smart card readers, 40 UPSs, 40 data cards and two plasma screens (63 inch each) at a cost of Rs 1.47 crore during July and October 2010.

Simultaneously, software for the system was developed by DIMTS. However, contract for development of software and maintenance of the system, could not be finalised with DIMTS due to higher prices quoted by them, CAG said.

On the request of DoT later, CAG added, National Informatics Centre (NIC) developed the software in October 2013.

Application of the system was launched in July 2014 on two vehicles, while the system was still under trial phase as of September 2014.

“Inadequate planning for the project of e-challaning in the enforcement branch of department of transport (DoT) resulted in blockade of funds to the tune of Rs 1.47 crore in purchase of equipment, which were lying idle for more than three years.

“The matter was referred to the Government in December 2014, their reply was awaited (as on April 2015),” CAG observed.

In view of the ever increasing vehicle population in Delhi, the DoT had in consultation with DIMTS decided to equip enforcement vehicles for providing facilities like online challaning, connectivity with headquarters’ server, printing of challans, electronic card readers, camera etc.

Accordingly, it was decided to procure 40 sets of equipment for e-enforcement (e-challaning of defaulting vehicles/drivers) for 40 mobile vehicles.

Government auditor CAG today pointed out “unfruitful expenditure” on part of Delhi transport department as it did not initiate action on feasibility reports for personal transit system.

The personal transit system (PRT) is designed to deliver similar level of flexibility as a taxi, with the privacy of a car. It typically consists of electric powered vehicles with carrying capacity of four-six persons, with a central control system, running on either ground-level or elevated guided ways with minimal waiting time and takes passengers non-stop to their destinations.

The CAG in its report for the fiscal ending on March 31, 2014, said, “Expenditure of Rs 9.85 crore (including service tax of Rs 77 lakh) crore was rendered unfruitful, as DoT did not initiate any action on feasibility reports for PRT system, as prepared by DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited).”

The audit scrutiny of DoT records showed that DIMTS, a joint venture company, was proposed (on April 27, 2009) to carry out a feasibility study on PRT in and around Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar/ Munirka area in Delhi.

The proposal was approved by the department in May 2009 and subsequently, it released Rs 1.63 crore in four installments (between June 2009 and April 2010) to DIMTS, which submitted the study report in October 2009.

“The DoT did not take any further action on the report,” CAG said.

The DIMTS again, on May 2, 2011, proposed to take up a feasibility study on PRT system in five locations (Dwarka Sub-City, North Campus, ITPO, Karol Bagh and East Delhi’s link to Central Delhi) and a detailed progress report (DPR) of one selected location for PRT in Delhi.

The DoT approved (on May 6, 2011) the proposal and issued sanction for Rs 7.45 crore in favour of DIMTS, CAG said. Around 89 per cent food samples of the mid-day meal scheme failed to pass the “nutritive” value test during 2010-14 in Delhi, a CAG report has said.

The government auditor also said that of the 18,000 children supported under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan only 1,154 were covered during 2013-14.

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