BCLL Tender Row: Previous one scrapped, talks on for another

 

 

The infamous story of the Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) has now been elevated new levels as the previous tenders which received only a single bidder has been cancelled by the urban transport organisation. After that, going by the information given by the officials, new discussions have been started regarding the new tender for the operation of 139 buses which are parked at the Bagsewaniya bus depot from several months. As per information, BCLL had applied for a tender for the third term as the previous two terms yielded no bidders. The opening of the tender was delayed for a variety of reasons including the tenth council meeting of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) (as told by the BCLL officials) and the upcoming holidays on the calendar. After which, it was revealed that only a single company has applied for the operation of buses. The tender was then cancelled citing lack of clarity in the tender filed and the rule of the authority according to which a single tender cannot be entertained, though the rule can be averted if the tender is applied for the another few successive terms.

 

“The operation buses will be given keeping in mind the revenue collection as committed from the bus drivers.” An officer at BCLL told while seeking anonymity. From past a few months, the city’s transport system has been partly paralysed as the drivers of 139 buses have gone on strike. As a consequence of this, the operating agency of the buses, Chalo app was suspended after which fresh tenders were released. Ironically, the two tenders didn’t yield any buyers. In another attempt, a third tender was filed by BCLL which was scheduled to be open on August 30. With implications of the same affecting the drivers of the buses and commuters of the city, things have worsened for the transport system of the city. As reported by ‘The Hitavada’ earlier, bus drivers of the city buses are also in dire need of work. Also, the commuters have also face additional worries, other than those existing in travelling from one part of the city to another.