Old weigh-bridges are being sold for a song in Gujarat

It seems, the housing project department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is doling out heavy discounts while estimating the price of old weigh-bridges that are on sale. The department had invited tenders to sell off  two weigh bridges at Aslali Octroi check-post. VR Scrap Traders had emerged as the highest bidder by quoting Rs6.11 lakh for them. The proposal was sent to AMC's standing committee for approval. However, the decision was deferred for further consideration due to opposition by the Congress.

Hasankhan Pathan, member of AMC's standing committee, said, "One of the weigh bridges is electronic and costs around Rs80 lakh. The second weigh bridge can also be priced at around Rs30 lakh in the market. Though both of them are used ones, they could fetch prices four to five times higher than that quoted by the bidder in response to the tender. "If we had not opposed the proposal, the civic body would have to bear financial losses," said Pathan.

But the AMC standing committee doesn't seem bothered about clearing huge amounts for cricket matches! It passed a controversial proposal of Rs2.85 lakh for the participation of its two teams in the all-Gujarat inter-corporation T20 cricket tournament at Baroda. The mayor and municipal commissioner's sides will be taking part in the tournament in February and the civic body has approved Rs4,000 per player for uniforms and shoes. It should be noted that every year this tournament is organised and same expenses are incurred.

"The expenses are too much taking into account the fact that the tournament is a two-day affair. As per my calculation, it should not have been more than Rs1.25 lakh," said a BJP corporator on condition of anonymity.  The Congress also raised the issue of problems faced by the citizens due to lack of proper street lights.