new delhi buying buses with new specifications and design without proper assessment made delhi transport corporation dtc poorer by rs 15913 lakh these buses simply stood unused and developed technical snags churning losses the delhi government report on government undertakings had criticised dtc sharply for the losses and asked for accountabilityeven three months after the report has been brought out no action has been taken the tale began when without inviting open tenders purchase orders were placed for these buses dtc finalised specifications for bus designs of intercity buses instead of following the twotier bid the corporation sent letters to seven bus bodybuilders in septemberoctober 1997 for 18 sample intercity busesrates and specifications were not laid down methodically it left to the discretion of the bodybuilders the report said it is not clear how the names of these body makers were shortlisted the report revealed it is the duty of the officers to advise the board and present the correct procedure the panel is not satisfied responsibility needs to be fixed for this lapse it saidafter procuring these 12 buses dtc failed to utilise them for oneandhalf months it needed approval from state transport authority and automotive research association of india pune it incurred a loss of rs 1822 per day which amounted to rs 983 lakh for 45 days in february 1998 again the dtc invited tenders for purchasing over 400 buses orders were placed with nine firms for the fabrication of these buses here too there were discrepancieswork orders for 242 buses were placed in april 1998 much before the boards approval which came through in may the report said a goabased company was given orders for 176 buses this inspite of the fact that companys offer was received after the stipulated time and had not accepted the terms and conditions with regard to design specifications and rates of fabricationthe decision to place tenders before approval and accept tenders from the goabased company which were received late was irregular a committee member said soon after shortcomings were seen in the newlyfabricated buses they included excessive breakage of the windscreen inconveneient doors poor fuel efficiency and poor busbody material the department had to change its specification in almost all the above casesthis reflects poorly on the efficiency of the corporation it is surprising to note that operating units were not taken before placing largescale orders the responsibility in the entire case should be fixed the report said