Smart bus stuck, World Bank called in to push

CHANDIGARH: The city’s switchover to the intelligent transport system (ITS) is stuck because of complaints and counter-complaints by the two bidders.

Since World Bank bankrolled this project of modernising the ageing bus fleet of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU), the UT Administration has now written to the international funding agency about how this controversy has pushed the start date from June. From 13 companies that had shown interest in the job initially and come to a pre-bidding meeting last December, only two had come forward, later. The UT had opened technical bids but allegations over eligibility started flying before the companies were to quote the price.

In May 2014, Chandigarh, Mira-Bhayandar, Bhopal, and Jaipur were picked for running the pilot project of a modern bus service. Installed at bus-queue shelters, the ITS will help the waiting public know the estimated time of arrival of the buses. It has many other smart features designed for commuters of the mobilephone and internet age.

World Bank to release Rs 13 crore

World Bank will release Rs 13 crore for the task in two years. The selected bidder must deliver the ITS within a year and maintain it for five years. CTU director Amit Talwar said: “The two bidders who had come forward for the project got busy filing complaints and counter-complaints against each other, so we had to write to World Bank.” Sources in the Chandigarh Administration confirmed that this dispute between the bidders had delayed the project.