‘MSRTC contracts subject to multiple levels of scrutiny’

“The norms for the purchase of tyres were fixed by the state government in 2005 and duly approved by the board. Rather than the initial cost of a tyre quoted by a company,the priority should be on the lowest per km cost quoted. There are as many as 18,200 buses under the MSRTC,and therefore the per km cost is more important. Mr Sahay did not approve of this formula for procurement,but changing these norms was beyond my brief,” said Kapoor.

Kapoor said the issue of energy saving devices was sub-judice as the company awarded the contract had taken Sahay to court after the officer blocked payments to it. The state PWD had given an independent opinion that the equipment supplied was fine,Kapoor added.

“Mr Sahay’s main grouse was that he had to report to me,since I was his junior. On joining the corporation,he sent me a letter stating that the rules of the corporation did not apply to him as he was a senior officer. I tried to explain to him that I had not posted him there,but he refused to listen. I have written to the state government about this,and other issues. My sympathies are with him (Sahay),but he was in the habit of compiling reports and shooting them off to the government without understanding issues,” said Kapoor.

Kapoor alleged,“He (Sahay) was with the MSRTC for just eight months. In seven months,he had changed seven drivers due to various reasons,until a driver had to be brought from Thane for him. I have put this on record with the government. He also sent out around 20 memos to the deputy Chief Security and Vigilance Officer,who came to my office and put in his resignation,which I did not accept.”

“As for the GM (stores and purchases) he levelled allegations against,the retired officer has a mentally ill wife. Despite the wife not being an MSRTC employee,Sahay had called for her medical bills for scrutiny. The GM had written a long letter to the government complaining of this.”