Allowance for car revs up UMC corporators

Defending the scheme, the commissioner stated it is a “better economics”. "Had I given them a choice of providing vehicle they wouldn’t have settled for anything less than a Contessa or a 118 NE each," adding that along with the cost would come the attendant costs of providing drivers, uniforms and salaries and maintenance of the vehicles. “I have taken care that with this scheme the transportation cost is drastically reduced," he added.

Corporators of the ruling alliance Shiv Sena-BJP, the largest beneficiaries of the facility, are but natural happy. "We can now safely take our vehicles for an outing too without the conspicuous `an official vehicle’ tag,” one corporator said.

However, the opposition is unhappy. While the post of the chairman of various committees stay with the ruling alliance every year, the only other beneficiary is the opposition leader Jyoti Kalani of Ulhasnagar People’s Party.

The opposition pointed out that hiring of private vehicles is not allowed unless they bear “I” mark on them under the Motor Vehicles Act. Apart from the RTO revenue taking a dip, it is not clear who will be responsible if the vehicle is met with an accident, coporator or UMC?

Garage owners said maintenance would cost at least Rs 8,000. "Getting the maintenance sanctioned by the civic authorities would be impossible," a corporator pointed out adding, "I hence decided something on my own."