Alleging corruption in awarding of a contract for introducing e-governance in state transport offices by previous Shiromani Akali Dal and Bhartiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) regime, member of National Road Safety Council, Kamal Soi, on Wednesday demanded a vigilance probe to recover the amount to the tune of Rs 6.5 Crore from the two concerned companies.
Addressing a Press conference, Soi demanded the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh to order a vigilance probe and recover the amount to the tune of Rs 6.5 Crore from both the companies making driving licenses (DLs) and registration certificates (RCs) during SAD-BJP regime. He said the Punjab government has already cancelled the deal with them citing various ambiguities.
He alleged Punjab government entered into an agreement on 27 September 2011 with a Noida based company. The company was awarded the contract for introducing e-governance in transport offices of the state. He said, the work to issue smart card based driving licenses and motor vehicle registration certificates was also given to the same company.
He claimed that the contract was initially provided for a tenure of five years. Under the contract on 27 November 2011, the company charges Rs 65 for DLs and Rs 136.5 for RCs, while National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI), a Central government company, charges a sum of only Rs 45 for both DLs and RCs in the states in which the DL or RC project is carried out under its aegis.
He claimed, the company though incorporated in India, is a subsidiary to a foreign company whose shareholding is to the tune of 97 per cent. “The fact that a company with such an overpowering foreign hand could have been allowed to undertake and implement such an important project that requires constant generation in a state that borders the enemy territory of Pakistan”, Soi said.
In March, 2015, the Punjab transport department had decided to set up Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTT) project at 32 locations of the state. Subsequently, on 1 June 2015, about one year before the expiry of the DL and RC contract awarded to the consortium led by the Noida based company, the department clandestinely issued a letter to the company whereby the DL and RC contract under which the company was exploiting the public was extended for a period of five full years from the date of its expiry, alleged Soi.