Due to the shortage of four-wheelers at the Fuse-Off Call offices of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), staff are unable to respond quickly to faults and power disruptions across the city.
T. Sadagopan, a consumer activist in Pattabhiram, said he has been noticing staff of Tangedco arriving in two wheelers and bicycles to attend to electricity faults. He pointed out that staff attending to faults were unable to bring many instruments as some of them can be brought only in four-wheelers.
V. Rajagopal of Anna Nagar West Extension complained about the absence of a vehicle for Krishnapuram that comprises Mogappair West, Anna Nagar West Extension and parts of Padi.
A senior official of Tangedco said there are a total of 69 FOCs in the city, of which 49 centres have contract vehicles at their disposal. He said the FOC offices located in three circles of Central, West and North are facing vehicle shortage. Of the 53 FOCs covering the north region, vehicles have been posted in only 32 FOC centres. Despite relaxing certain provisions in the tender norms, contract vehicle owners were not participating in the process, he pointed out.
Another senior official said that on the one hand, most owners did not want to let out their vehicles for Tangedco as it was becoming unviable considering the huge cost in operations and frequent increase in fuel prices. Further, vehicle owners preferred to operate their cars or sports utility vehicles as cabs since this offered them more profit, he added.
Officials say many vehicle owners are reluctant to let out their vehicles to Tangedco as it is not profitable
