Govt to terminate Shimnit contract
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 30
Goa government today told the Union Surface Transport Ministry that they will terminate the contract with Shimnit Utsch and retender the process for high security registration plates (HSRP) very soon.
The high level sources from Transport Department confirmed that a review meeting on HSRP was called by Joint Secretary for Union Transport Ministry at New Delhi, today. The meeting was attended by representatives from Meghalaya, Sikkim and Goa.
“We informed the ministry that Goa government is in process of terminating the HSRP contract with Shimnit Utsch and fresh bid will be opened soon,” sources said.
Sources also said that ministry was keen to know why HSRP is not implemented in the State with full vigour.
“Goa told the Centre that the HSRP through a fresh contract would be implemented within four months of the termination of the contract with Shimnit,” sources said.
The representatives from Meghalaya and Sikkim told ministry that the rates of HSRP are quite high in their States compared to Goa. Hence it’s not possible for them to implement it.
The rates in these two States are Rs 2500 and Rs 1800 respectively, which are much lower in Goa — Rs 1200.
After much delay, the State Transport Ministry on Tuesday had assured to issue show cause notice to the company within 15 days over termination of the contract.
After much pressure from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and transport operators, the State government had finally assured to scrap the tender with Shimnit Utsch. The decision got momentum only after Srivastava Committee pointed out glaring irregularities in the tendering process.
The decision of the State government had forced the company to knock the doors of the High Court. The company had told court that the allegations made by the government committee do not stand after awarding the contract.
