Punjab Government Misses Out on Central Assistance Due to Proposal Delay

The Punjab government's delay in submitting a proposal for the procurement of 93 buses for Amritsar's bus rapid transit system led to the denial of central assistance worth Rs 11 crore. The state failed to comply with timelines set by the Ministry of Urban Development under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

Failure to comply with submission timelines for the procurement of 93 buses for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Amritsar has led to the denial of central assistance, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

The CAG report, tabled in the Punjab Assembly during the concluding day of its three-day session, highlighted that the Ministry of Urban Development had issued guidelines in August 2013 for financing urban transport systems under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

State governments were instructed to prepare and submit detailed project reports (DPRs) within specified timelines to secure funding approvals. However, the Punjab Bus Metro Society's delay in submitting the DPR resulted in missed deadlines, ultimately costing the state Rs 11 crore in potential central assistance.

(With inputs from agencies.)