Dial-A-Cab Service: Rules Flouted, Contracts Doled Out Arbitrarily

SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES have to light in the allotment of air-conditioned taxi cabs by the Delhi Government. While no Cabinet approval was sought for the scheme, even the criteria for giving contracts for taxis was reportedly flouted.

Sources said when tenders were invited for the first time, a numbering system was devised to shortlist the names of companies. As per the marking, Mega Corporation was given six marks, Delta Corporation 15 and Siddhartha Bahadur eight. But before the selection of the names of the taxis could be finalised, additional names were added to the list, reportedly at the insistence of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Transport Minister Parvez Hashmi. The four companies are - Saras Foods, Dial-a-Cab, Maxim Cabs and Vince Overseas.

 

Sources alleged that the before the final selection, the marks of all the companies were suddenly altered to suit a few select companies.

In the final shortlist, Mega Corporation, which had initially been given six marks, was given eight the second time. Delta Corporation's marks decreased from 15 to 10, Siddhartha Bahadur's marks went up from eight to nine, Saras Foods' increased from six to eight, Dial-a- Cab from six to nine and Maxim from zero to nine. Sources said it was shocking how marks were fudged merely to accommodate a few select companies.

The criteria for the selection of companies has been flouted. It has come to light that companies such as Mega and Maxim Cab don't even have facilities for parking. Similarly, Siddhartha Bahadur is not a corporate entity. This is despite the fact that the eligibility criteria for the companies clearly states that only corporate entities will be allowed to apply, the company should have adequate parking and financial backing.

Sources said that no site visits were made to ascertain if the facilities claimed existed or not. It is being alleged that while bidders were prepared to charge less than Rs 15 a km, the Transport department was adamant.