Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s Peculiar Move of renting GPS devices raises eyebrows

Vadodara : The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has opted for a counterintuitive approach that may potentially inflate project costs rather than save money. The civic body’s decision to equip 450 vehicles with GPS for monitoring purposes has raised eyebrows, particularly due to its choice to rent rather than purchase the devices. Despite viable market options available for Rs.10,000  per unit, the VMC has agreed to pay a staggering Rs.17,000 in rent for installation, alongside an additional expenditure of Rs. 77.49 lakhs.

In a bid to scrutinize the movement of its fleet, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has opted to equip 450 vehicles with GPS tracking devices. However, instead of adopting a financially prudent approach by purchasing the necessary equipment, the VMC has chosen the costly route of renting these devices. This decision has stirred controversy, prompting opposition leaders to voice concerns over the municipality’s fiscal responsibility.

Opposition leader Ami Rawat, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Standing Committee, vehemently opposed the rental arrangement, advocating for the outright purchase and installation of GPS devices. Rawat’s letter decried the municipality’s decision, emphasizing the need to prioritize the financial interests of the VMC over short-term convenience.

Despite the opposition’s objections, the municipal standing committee has forged ahead with its plans to rent GPS devices, citing reasons undisclosed to the public. Rawat has emphasized the importance of implementing various types of GPS devices tailored to the municipality’s fleet, coupled with robust monitoring mechanisms overseen by VMC personnel.

Yogesh Vasava, an officer in the vehicle purchase department, shed light on the current state of the VMC’s fleet, noting that 48 vehicles had already been scrapped under the municipality’s scrap policy. An additional 35 to 40 vehicles are slated for disposal in the near future. Amidst these developments, discussions surrounding the installation of GPS devices persist, highlighting the VMC’s commitment to enhancing vehicle monitoring capabilities.

The decision to opt for rental GPS devices continues to fuel debate within the municipal corridors, with concerns lingering over the long-term financial implications for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation.