A startling 74.12% of the vehicles owned by the Kochi Corporation in Kerala are currently idling, awaiting fitness certification, repairs, or auction due to their unserviceability. This finding underscores serious inefficiencies within the local body regarding vehicle management and upkeep.
According to the audit report submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on local bodies for the period 2020–21 to 2022–23, of the total 143 vehicles owned by the Kochi Corporation, 72 have been determined unserviceable and are to be auctioned off. An additional 34 vehicles are off the road, lacking necessary fitness or maintenance. In contrast, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation reported 38.18% of its vehicles idling, while Kozhikode and Thrissur had 27.06% and 17.65%, respectively.
Waste Management Vehicles in Dire Condition
The findings are even graver when it comes to the 116 vehicles specifically purchased by the Kochi Corporation for waste movement. Alarmingly, only 11 of these vehicles are operational. As of April 2024, 55 of these vehicles are classified as unserviceable, while 34 are either garaged or lacking necessary fitness certificates, and 16 are under consideration for auction.
Among the 34 vehicles off the road, 14 have been idling for over a year, with others garaged for periods ranging from two months to a staggering seven years. Notably, of the 55 unserviceable vehicles, 20 four-wheeler trucks have remained unattended for durations between nine months and nine years. Additionally, six trucks purchased in 2014 were subjected to Fitness Certificate Tests (FCT) between December 2015 and December 2016, but languished in workshops until 2018, ultimately sustaining flood damage, rendering them unserviceable.
Challenges in Vehicle Maintenance and Management
The trucks acquired in 2014 ceased production within a year, resulting in a shortage of spare parts and laying the groundwork for further challenges. Workshops declined to undertake necessary repairs, forcing the Corporation to explore auction options. The audit pointed out that the Corporation should have ensured the availability of vehicle models and spare parts for a minimum of 15 years. Prolonged periods of idling were identified as the primary cause for vehicles becoming unserviceable before completing even a decade of use.
Commercial vehicles are initially awarded fitness certificates for two years, necessitating annual renewals thereafter. A recent test check of 27 vehicles revealed delays in fitness certificate processing ranging from one-and-a-half months to nine-and-a-half months at different stages after initial reporting by the health wing. Alarmingly, some payments have experienced delays of up to 44 months.
“Delays in processing files for fitness tests and repairs, coupled with non-payment of dues to authorised workshops, have caused vehicles to remain idle for protracted periods, leading to irreparable damage and substantial financial losses for the public sector,” the audit reported.
The CAG also highlighted delays extending to 10 years between the dates vehicles went off the road and when they were finally auctioned. The report advocates for timely condemnation of unserviceable vehicles, stressing that prolonged idling diminishes scrap value and exacerbates financial losses. This critical situation calls for immediate attention and corrective measures to enhance operational efficiency within the Kochi Corporation.
