PANJIM: In an attempt to carry out smooth functioning in the ferry toll fee collection, the River Navigation Department is likely to introduce electronic ticketing system.
Secretary (RND) PS Reddy has asked the head of department – Captain of Ports – to move a proposal to the government, latest by month-end, to replace the current ticketing system with electronic machine. The IAS officer has also directed to ensure reconciliation and ascertain the facts regarding the alleged ticketing scam plaguing the RND.
The direction comes in a series of meetings with the Ports and RND officials in the wake of news reports in Herald revealing ticketing scam worth Rs 36.63 lakh during the last five years. An audit in the RND has exposed the irregularities in the sale of tickets and collection of fares from the passengers.
“The CoP has been asked to do the reconciliation and find out the truth, and if necessary, to order an inquiry (into the alleged scam),” he told Herald when contacted for a comment on the issue.
The auditors have observed that ticket collectors/sailors do not remit full amount collected on each ferry route on a particular day despite instructions.
Herald has learnt that Secretary had directed the CoP to maintain the records during an inspection two months ago. Reddy has now sought a status report on this direction.
It has come to the fore that some ticket collectors have not deposited the money collected from the tickets for a month which goes up to six months. As such, the Secretary has directed that recovery be made from the concerned staff from this month.
Way back in 2012, an audit inquiry had pointed out non reconciliation of toll fee collection against the tickets issued. The auditors had said that there was no supervision on issue of tickets and revenue collection, no reconciliation for amount of tickets issued against the amount received on the sale of tickets, no maintenance of records, no verification whether revenue collection from toll fee was actually remitted in accurate and prompt manner, etc. To this, the CoP had then assured that efforts would be made to reconcile the tickets issued and ensure there is no pilferage in the revenue.
Meanwhile, on the overpayment to the staff, Reddy when requested to divulge action taken, if any, informed that recovery of money from staff who have been overpaid should commence from this month. The CoP has been directed to regularise leaves of those staff who are eligible for leave but not sanctioned whereas show cause notice be issued on those who do not have the leaves but are paid salaries. It is from this second category of staff that extra pay be recovered.
