KMC expedites e-auction of unused vehicles in its garages

Kolkata: With the monsoon season not too far away, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has expedited the process of e-auction of the condemned vehicles lying unused in various garages of the civic body. The decision of the civic body has been prompted by their apprehension that water accumulating in these vehicles can turn as a breeding ground for mosquitoes resulting in diseases like dengue and malaria.

“There are a number of vehicles that are lying abandoned in our garages. Most of these vehicles belong to the drainage department. The monsoon is expected to reach by the second week of June.

Water may accumulate in these thereby encouraging breeding of mosquitoes. We do not want this to happen,” a top KMC official said. The KMC has started awareness campaign against dengue right from January this year.

“We have been conducting drives on a regular basis at government and private establishments in the city for preventing dengue,” member mayor in council (health) Atin Ghosh said.  

According to sources in the civic body, they have identified as many as 93 such vehicles lying abandoned in the garages which are beyond economic repair. A three-member Condemnation Testing Committee had submitted a report last month regarding the vehicles.

Out of 93, 59 have already completed 15 years, 30 have no record of commissioning at garage units, while four are beyond economic repair though their age is less than 15 years. The mayor in council (decision making body) has already approved the e auction of these vehicles.

Such auctioning of the KMC vehicles are held from time to time with a view to earn revenue and vacate the occupied space for receipt of more condemned materials. The last auction was held three years back. The KMC hopes to earn a revenue of Rs 41.8 lakh through the e-auction mode.