BevQ app deal should be cancelled: Ramesh Chennithala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has stated that the government's move in handing over the creation of mobile application for virtual queue management system in beverages outlets and bars is shrouded in mystery and demanded the cancellation of the deal as large-scale corruption is involved.
In his letter to excise and labour minister T P Ramakrishnan, he said that while there are several institutions under the government like the C-DIT and the IT Mission, the government has handed over the project to a private company which has no proven track record. He said that it is also learnt that the company which bagged the project is a sympathiser of CPM.
It is mysterious that when there are organizations which have proven track record under the government itself, it is mysterious that the government chose an organization with no proven record for creating the application that has vast commercial and crucial marketing possibility. He said that there are also reports coming out that Google has declined the application since the application has no quality. Any PSU under the government which could have created the application for just Rs 10 lakhs have been handed over to a CPM sympathiser's company, that could fetch it crores of rupees, he alleged. He said that since 50 paisa is to be given to the company for every token, it would fetch the company at least Rs 2 crore every month. Also, there is lack of clarity regarding the time frame up to which the application will be in force. He demanded that the government should conduct a probe into the deal, and hand over the project to any other organization under the government control.
KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran said that selection of the company for the project is suspicious. Out of the 27 companies, that submitted the tender, Fair Code Technologies Private Limited was chosen based on the basis of interest of CM and the excise minister. He demanded that the CM and the excise minister should clarify their excess interest in the company.
The app BevQ, is yet to receive the clearance. Only afterthis can Bevco upload the application on Google Play Store and use it for operationalizing the beverages corporation outlets and bar hotel liquor counters.