CAG finds 'unfruitful expenditure' by Delhi transport dept

Government auditor CAG today pointed out "unfruitful expenditure" on part of Delhi transport department as it did not initiate action on feasibility reports for personal transit system.
The personal transit system (PRT) is designed to deliver similar level of flexibility as a taxi, with the privacy of a car. It typically consists of electric powered vehicles with carrying capacity of four-six persons, with a central control system, running on either ground-level or elevated guided ways with minimal waiting time and takes passengers non-stop to their destinations.
The CAG in its report for the fiscal ending on March 31, 2014, said, "Expenditure of Rs 9.85 crore (including service tax of Rs 77 lakh) crore was rendered unfruitful, as DoT did not initiate any action on feasibility reports for PRT system, as prepared by DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited)."

The audit scrutiny of DoT records showed that DIMTS, a joint venture company, was proposed (on April 27, 2009) to carry out a feasibility study on PRT in and around Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar/ Munirka area in Delhi.
The proposal was approved by the department in May 2009 and subsequently, it released Rs 1.63 crore in four installments (between June 2009 and April 2010) to DIMTS, which submitted the study report in October 2009.
"The DoT did not take any further action on the report," CAG said.
The DIMTS again, on May 2, 2011, proposed to take up a feasibility study on PRT system in five locations (Dwarka Sub-City, North Campus, ITPO, Karol Bagh and East Delhi's link to Central Delhi) and a detailed progress report (DPR) of one selected location for PRT in Delhi.

The DoT approved (on May 6, 2011) the proposal and issued sanction for Rs 7.45 crore in favour of DIMTS, CAG said.