Wadettiwar alleges ST spare parts bought at 30% above market rate, writes to CM and transport minister

Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has made serious allegations over procurement by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (ST). He has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, raising serious questions about how the corporation buys spare parts.

Wadettiwar alleges that the parts needed for maintenance and repair of ST buses are being bought at more than 30 per cent above the market rate. According to him, this is causing a financial loss to the corporation.

In the letter, Wadettiwar wrote that instead of fixing competitive rates through a lawful tender process, goods were bought locally at around 30 per cent above the market rate. According to his allegation, this is why the ST corporation is being financially fleeced.

The letter also alleges that the tender process is being stalled at the corporation's senior level, while haphazard purchases are deliberately being made at the level of local depots and the central workshop. Wadettiwar has also claimed that the key procurement process for spare parts has been deliberately put on hold for several months.

The letter thus makes three points. First, parts are being bought at more than 30 per cent above the market rate. Second, the tender process is being held up at the senior level while depots and the central workshop make haphazard purchases. Third, the key procurement process for parts has been on hold for several months. All of these are allegations and claims made by Wadettiwar in his letter.

Wadettiwar has demanded a thorough investigation into the entire matter and strict action against those found guilty. He has made this demand of Chief Minister Fadnavis and Transport Minister Sarnaik.