Ahmedabad: Administrative lapses have come to light in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Rs 9.32 crore GPS implementation project for solid waste management vehicles. The project, approved in April 2023, has faced several coordination challenges.
The AMC had initially planned to install GPS in 2,904 vehicles. However, after the system was installed in 1,265 vehicles, these vehicles exceeded their operational lifespan within months, necessitating the transfer of the GPS hardware to 1,265 new vehicles. This has raised questions about AMC's vehicle assessment process.
To make matters worse, the corporation recently purchased 600 new vehicles, and on Oct 30, the standing committee approved a proposal to have the old company install GPS hardware in these vehicles at an additional cost of Rs 53 lakh. The project scope has now expanded to cover 3,504 vehicles with a five-year maintenance contract.
According to AMC sources, the civic body had originally tendered for a GPS-based vehicle tracking and monitoring system (VTMS) for its solid waste management department vehicles. A consultant appointed by the AMC had estimated the cost at Rs. 9.57 crore, but the standing committee approved a tender for Rs 9.32 crore on March 2, 2023.
Following the initial work order, additional GPS requirements emerged from the central workshop, health, and sewage treatment plan (STP) departments due to new vehicle acquisitions.
The AMC then decided to shift GPS from 1,265 old vehicles to 1,265 new ones and install the system in an additional 1,934 vehicles, bringing the total to 2,904 vehicles with GPS.
Under the tender provisions, the contracted company was permitted to install GPS in an additional 25% of vehicles (726 units) at previously quoted rates. However, now the total project expenditure has reached Rs 9.85 crore, covering installation and five-year maintenance for all 3,504 vehicles.