While the Delhi Government, aided by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System ltd (DIMTS), recently invited Expression of Interest (EOI) from firms across the globe, the officials of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) were found clueless about the move.
According to a senior DTC official, it came as a surprise to them as even the corporation was not kept in the loop. “It was only after we came across it in the media that we got to know about any such tender being floated. If the tender is to procure buses for the DTC, then it is an unprecedented move as it is DTC who actually floats the tender. And this time it was done without even involving us in the process,” said the official.
While it was reported on Thursday that a global tender has been floated, officials later clarified that so far they have only invited EOI from the interested firms after which the companies that satisfy the criteria will be shortlisted and tender would be floated then.
When approached for comment, Deputy Chief General Manager (PR) of DTC RS Minhas said, “The EOI has been issued by the Transport Department and DTC has nothing to do with it.”
The EOI has been floated to procure 2,000 buses by the Department of Transport and is being aided by DIMTS. It includes 12-seater, 13 to 22-seater, 23 to 34-seater and 35 to 70-seater buses.
Interestingly, DTC had been trying for over two years to procure buses for its ever-decreasing fleet. After failure of multiple tenders, it had recently even done away with the maintenance clause in its contract, which puts the onus of maintenance on the manufacturing companies.