Equipped with machines imported from Germany and built at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore, high-tech Inspection and Certificate Centre (ICC) of Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) is gathering dust due to a prolonged “delay” in its operation.
Realizing the urgency to curb gross irregularities prevailing in current corruption-ridden system of inspecting fitness of vehicles, the project was sanctioned by the Central government in 2016 to streamline issuance of fitness certificates by inspecting vehicles through automated machines with transparency for meeting environmental standards as well as the safety of passengers and road users.
However, moving at a snail’s pace, Automatic Testing Stations (ATS) under I&CC were established on 60 kanals of land in Samba, and staff was also trained for their smooth operation. Strangely, to date, the ICC has failed to take off, reflecting the myopic and lackadaisical approach of MVD. Many in MVD believe that over the years ICC has jumped several deadlines, and still, despite installation of machines and readiness of infrastructure, this significant facility has become a victim of double dealings.
Rumors doing the rounds in J&K Transport Department indicate that due to a conflict of interest of a couple of officers, especially one who brags about being Don in bureaucracy and claims to enjoy proximity with officers of Raj Bhawan, the benefits of prestigious project fail to pass on to its stakeholders.
“A private firm at breakneck speed established a private ATS in one year, whereas a well-organized MVD, even after consuming nearly 10 years, is still skeptical to start ICC.” This is a serious question mark on the pathetic working of those overseeing this prestigious project,” preferring anonymity, says one officer posted in the office of Transport Commissioner.
While another officer of MVD attributes it to an alleged act of sabotage designed for smooth launching of a private ATS owned by a firm that strongly prevails upon the working of MVD and enjoys close proximity with several officers of MVD as part of operation ‘Quid Pro Quo.’
The transformation of MVD into a private enterprise of one blue-eyed businessman deserves a high-level inquiry to scrutinize role of officers for inordinate delay in operation of a prestigious project visa viz smooth launching of a Pvt ATS, added officer.
Efforts to seek view point of Visheshpal Mahajan, Transport Commissioner, couldn’t materialize as the the officer neither responded to our repeated calls nor messages.