Chennai: “The officials are not responsible for the confusion caused by the cancellation of the tenders invited to purchase 1,000 electric buses. Those who are in a position to make policy decisions are the ones responsible,” said PMK leader Anbumani.
In a statement issued by him on this, he said, “The Tamil Nadu government, which canceled last Wednesday the tender invited to purchase 1,000 electric buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai, announced the very next day that the cancellation notice had been withdrawn and that the tender process would continue. These decisions show that the Tamil Nadu government is in a state of great confusion in matters related to administration.
Tenders for the purchase of 1,000 electric buses for the metropolitan transport corporations were invited last March. After that, with the Tamil Nadu Assembly election being announced and a change in government taking place, the deadline for submitting the tenders was postponed several times.
In this situation, the Tamil Nadu government announced on Wednesday, the 14th, that the notification inviting tenders was being cancelled for administrative reasons. This caused a major stir, and the Metropolitan Transport Corporation has said that the announcement cancelling the tenders was issued by mistake, and that it has been withdrawn and the tender process will continue.
It is not clear how a tender issued by the Tamil Nadu government could be canceled without the government itself knowing about it. Whatever decision the government makes must pass through various officials, from section officers to directors and secretaries. One person may make a mistake; how can all the officials make a mistake? Therefore, the officials are not responsible for the confusion that arose in the cancellation of tenders. Those in a position to make policy decisions are the ones responsible.
Electric buses are being purchased for the metropolitan transport corporations based on the Gross Cost Contract entered into by the DMK government with the World Bank. The PMK strongly opposes this because it will only pave the way for the privatization of the metropolitan transport corporation. If the government had canceled this tender process for the same reason, it should have stood firm on that decision. It should not have changed its mind.
For the development of a state, it is essential that the state government carefully examines matters and makes clear decisions, and remains firm in them. Making decisions in haste and changing them immediately does not strengthen administration. From now on, the government should examine and make all decisions; it should remain firm in them,” Anbumani has emphasized.
