South Corporation to splurge on 20 hired cars for its babus

Critics say cheaper to buy them than pay lakhs as rent

Although municipal corporations are known to cry wolf over financial resources, the South Corporation has decided to hire sedans and hatchbacks for its babus.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to hire 20 sedans and hatchbacks to be used by its senior officers at a monthly rent of Rs 10 lakh.

But the decision has already raised eyebrows over paying such a huge monthly rent.
“The total expenditure for hiring these air-conditioned, CNG-driven vehicles will be approximately Rs 2 crore over a period of two years,” said a senior SDMC official.

Questioning the decision, a senior councillor of the ruling BJP said the civic body can buy a fleet of vehicles in the same amount. “The civic body will be able to buy the same number of cars in the amount that would be paid as rent in two years,” said a councillor who does not want to be named.

This decision, however, was later defended by the leader of the House in South Corporation Subhash Arya.

He said several officers don’t have parking space at their homes, and hiring cars will solve the parking issue as well as save the corporation from looking after wear and tear of the vehicles.

Officials said that after trifurcation of the MCD, the three municipal corporations have been facing shortage of vehicles for their officials and top employees of the deliberative wing.  A proposal for hiring the vehicles was approved by the standing committee of the corporation in a meeting on Tuesday.

According to the proposal, a car rental company will provide a sedan at a monthly rent of Rs 44,900.

Similarly, the car rental company will charge a monthly rent of Rs 24,500 for hatchbacks.

All department heads and the officer above them are entitled to the vehicle. Officers having field duty can also use the vehicles.

From the deliberative wings, the mayor and chairman of the standing committee are entitled to the vehicles.