No dedicated drivers for special vehicles bought during CYG

“The vehicles are a hit at the zoo,” said Rajkumar Jadhav,Deputy Garden Superintendent,Zoo. However,even during rush only five vehicles can be operated while 11 lie idle. He said after the vehicles were sent to the zoological park,five drivers were drawn from various departments of the PMC.

“While on weekdays all vehicles are not used,on weekends they are used in turns so that they remain functional,” said Jadhav. He added that they are in the process of appointing at least five dedicated drivers. “The vehicle depot has been asked to provide required manpower on contract basis,” said Jadhav.

“The battery operated vehicles were bought for the CYG to be used later at Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj. Accordingly,the vehicles have been given to the garden department,” said Suresh Jagtap,Deputy Municipal Commissioner and in-charge of the PMC Vehicle Depot.

He said the vehicle depot was already short of hands and was overcoming the shortage by roping in drivers from the transport utility and it was not possible to allot drivers from the existing staff.

“Also,there has been no official communication from the garden department for drivers. The issue can be taken up only if there is a demand,” Jagtap said.