Capital infused by Govt not efficiently used; Board meetings, administrative inspections and vigilance checks not conducted regularly
SRINAGAR: A performance audit of the Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation between 2014-15 to 2018-19 has brought out instances of certain deficiencies in its planning, operational performance, internal controls etc.
In its report for the year ended March 31, 2019, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed that capital infused by the Government was not efficiently used by the Corporation, which was set-up in 1976.
“Despite 20 per cent increase in paid up share Capital from Rs 204.74 crore in 2014- 15 to Rs 245.57 crore in 2018-19, there was a 33 per cent increase in accumulated losses from Rs 1,229.56 crore to Rs 1,639.01 crore which indicated that capital infused by the Government was not efficiently utilized by the Corporation,” reads the report, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The shortfall in achievement of targets of operative fleet and revenue collection targets during the period from 2014-15 to 2017-18 ranged between 28 per cent to 33 percent and 31 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, the auditor says.
“The overall shortfall in achievement of target of revenue during the period from 2014-15 to 2017-18 was Rs 165.22 crore,” reads the report tabled in Parliament on Monday.
The SRTC, according to the CAG, failed to earn its operational revenue, as operation loss ranged between Rs 15.03 per Km to Rs 34.68 per kilometer during the period from 2014 to 2019.
“The Corporation could not improve on the availability of vehicles as the overall fleet strength during the period from 2014-15 to 2018-19 decreased by 133 vehicles (14 per cent), despite addition of 142 vehicles during the same period. Fleet Operations during the period from 2014-15 to 2018-19 ranged between 51 percent and 59 percent and detention of vehicles in workshop ranged between 29 percent and 44 percent. Percentage of idle vehicles increased from five percent in 2014-15 to 19 per cent in 2018-19,” the report states.
The Corporation has also been slammed by the CAG over management of its assets. “Failure to acquire the ownership title of properties, non-valuation of properties, non-recovery of compensation of land transferred, non-utilisation of properties, nonrenewal of leases, indicated inadequate initiative of the Corporation to optimally manage its assets,” the report reveals.
The CAG has also revealed that services of drivers/ conductors were not utilised effectively, as the drivers/conductors remained attached with the vehicles detained at workshops despite the required staff available at the workshops, resulting in payment of Rs 44.95 crore to staff remaining idle.
“Internal control mechanism of the Corporation was inadequate, board meetings, monthly meetings, administrative inspections and vigilance checks were not conducted regularly,” reads the report.
The report also reveals that planning wing of the Corporation had not prepared any perspective plan or long term plan for its revival.