District Collector Archana Patnaik has written to the Coimbatore Corporation seeking details on the auction rights to place advertisements in bus shelters. According to sources, Ms. Patnaik sent a demi official letter a few days ago after she received complaints from several quarters that the corporation’s action was illegal.
The Corporation Council had on October 19 passed a resolution to construct 50 bus shelters with private partnership and had selected one of the two firms that had bid for the purpose. It had also awarded advertising rights for the firm for 15 years with provision to extend the contract by another five years.
The firm had agreed to pay the corporation Rs. 21.95 lakh a year.The Collector’s query comes in the wake of complaints and allegations that the civic body had usurped powers that are vested with the District Road Safety Committee for the location of bus shelters, and with the Collector for advertising rights.
Coimbatore Consumer Cause Secretary K. Kathirmathiyon said that the necessity and the location of bus shelter were always decided by the Committee, of which the Collector as the Regional Transport Authority, Coimbatore City Traffic Police, Regional Transport Officers and the Corporation are members.
The corporation did not have the right to unilaterally decide on the number of bus stands.
Similarly, the corporation awarding advertising rights to a private company was nothing but usurping the powers of the Collector, who alone was the competent authority. The corporation’s action was illegal and questionable.
Even if the Collector wanted to grant advertising rights, according to the rules it could only be for three years. Then how was it that the corporation had awarded rights for 15 years with a provision to extend it by another five, asked Mr. Kathirmathiyon.Corporation sources said that they were looking into the matter.
