Mystery over Rs 1.5cr CCTS software halts infrastructure projects

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Lack of any records about the Rs 1.5 crore software procured by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to conduct Chennai Comprehensive Transportation Study (CCTS) created some anxious moments over the future of several traffic related infrastructure projects.

A CMDA official said that software used to prepare the CCTS could not be located on the CMDA records since the last five years creating panic among the officials. There is also a theory that the software procured by CMDA was not returned to it by Wilbur Smith. Even now officials in CMDA are not able to carry out their work.

Interestingly, the finance department fixed up the responsibility on CMDA planner Meena for lack of maintaining the record pertaining to the software.

But the finance department official clarified that the software is not missing as reported by some section of the media. “We have the software but it was not recorded. It was an internal matter and was sorted out. Now we have brought it on record,” he added. However, this also brings to light that the software remained unutilized for the last five years.

 The software was used by the consultant Wilbur Smith to undertake the Chennai Comprehensive Transportation Study (CCTS) in the year 2007.

The study is designed to provide broad parameters for the long-term development of transport infrastructure and setting objectives for the next two decades with the horizon year as 2026, with a vision as spelt out in the Second Master Plan by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority – “to make Chennai a prime metropolis which will be more livable, economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable and with better assets for the future generations.

 Officials say the software has all data pertaining to the formulation of proposals of the integrated transportation system capable of accommodating the projected travel demand by appropriate plans, policies, programmes, priorities and phasing. And since it was not located, it created lot of panic, a CMDA source said.

 This also brings to light the lack of records about the purchase of software, computers and printers. “This is the right time to audit the software, computers, laptops and printers,” says a CMDA source.