Three battery-operated vehicles introduced by the GTA for value
addition in the tourism industry in Darjeeling have been grounded since
January as they couldn't run for optimum distance after batteries were
fully charged.
The GTA had purchased four eight-seater cars at a cost of Rs 36 lakh
early last year. Three of the vehicles were handed over to the transport
department in Darjeeling and used to operate between Gorkha Rangamanch
Bhavan and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. One vehicle was sent
to Deolo Tourist Lodge in Kalimpong.
"The vehicles started operating in Darjeeling from April 10 last
year. As the vehicles are open on the sides, they were not used during
the rainy season. The vehicles, which operated for about six months,
generated a revenue of Rs 3.5 lakh," said an official of the transport
department.
The official added: "We were told that once the battery was fully
charged, it would cover about 60km. However, it hardly ran for about
5km. The cars have other defects also. Probably, the vehicle is not
suited for a hilly region."
The transport department has four mechanics but none of them has been trained to undertake repairs.
"Prevalence Green Solution, the Bangalore-based company which
supplied the vehicles, did not train our mechanics. Despite writing to
the firm about the problems, it has not shown any interest," said the
official.
The company purportedly wrote a letter to the GTA's transport
department on March 4, stating "we have taken note of your concerns and
are arranging for our service engineers visit shortly".
But the engineers have not yet turned up. The letter was signed by
one Sunil Kumar but his designation has not been cited in the letter.
Even though Kumar has signed the letter "for, Prevalence Green
Solutions", it has neither been written on a letter head nor is there a
company stamp.
Asked if a maintenance contract had been signed with the company or
tests conducted before the vehicles' purchase, the official of the
transport department said: "We are unaware of such details."
Dawa Lepcha, the GTA Sabha member in charge of tourism, too, could
not say if proper tests had been done in Darjeeling before the purchase.
A GTA official who is in the know of things said: "The tests were
done but maintenance contract was not worked out as it is under a
two-year warranty. Once the warranty period is over, maintenance
contract has to be worked out."
Gopal Lama, executive director, tourism department, GTA, who had
taken charge recently, said: " I am hearing about the defunct vehicles
for the first time from you. I will enquire with the transport
department. However, I am sure that all procedures must have been
followed when the purchase was made as it was done using public funds."
Sources in Kalimpong said while the vehicle was operational, it was
not run regularly as the GTA had not posted a permanent driver.(TT)
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