The process of fitting High-Security Registration Plates for vehicles has run into rough weather once again, and it took the transport department one month to realize that all is not well. What was the department doing when the public was put to hardships all this while? Why did the government not consider all aspects when a single contractor was allotted the job of fitting number plates on the around 15 lakh vehicles across the State? This clearly shows that once again the transport department has not done its homework.
The contractor Real Mazon was finalised in October 2018 through a tender floated by the department since it emerged as the lowest bidder. The question is: Does the government select contractors based merely on lowest bids? It was the duty of the transport department to study the credentials of the firm hired for the job including a check on their infrastructure and manpower. The people have already been cheated once due to a false start on HSRP during the Digambar Kamat government in 2010. Pandurang Madkaikar was the then transport minister and people had to shell out Rs 1,500 to fit these registration plates which were soon discontinued.
Surprisingly, the Assistant Director of Transport (Enforcement) Vinod Arlekar confirmed that the number plates fitted by Real Mazon are not as per specifications. He even went to the extent of threating to challan motorists with the new number plates for not conforming to the norms. Why is the public being targeted when the fault lies within government systems and processes? And why is the transport department continuing with trial and error methods on the public? It is the sole responsibility of the government to ensure the contractor goes about his job in conformity with the prescribed norms.
It appears that the entire process is a farce and is hurried without proper study and planning. Or are we to believe that pressure is piled on the contractor hired during the Sudin Dhavalikar era so that the arrangement falls under its weight?
Goa has over 15 lakh vehicles and if there is a midway crisis, it requires basic thinking to at least ask the contractor to network with private players so that the work could be expedited. Interestingly, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has other plans. He says private dealers will soon install HSRPs with a rider that it will cost Rs 100 extra. But Mr Transport Minister, why are you making such an arrangement when the government has finalized and appointed a contractor already? If you are so much concerned about the hardships faced by the people, you should have questioned Real Mazon in the first place and worked out an arrangement through them without passing on an additional financial burden on the people.
The transport department must own responsibility and put systems in place first rather than taking people for a ride. Don’t test the patience of the public again.
