It was a rare public rebuke by Uttarakhand Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh that took top governments officials totally by surprise.
At the launch of first Nirbhaya bus service exclusively for women by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) between Haridwar and Dehradun here on Wednesday, Hridayesh lost her cool when she saw the bad condition of Dehradun ISBT where she had gone for its inauguration.
"I was upset after seeing the pathetic condition of Dehradun ISBT. So I gave my piece of mind," Hridayesh told Business Standard here after reprimanding the officials gathered for the inauguration on the bad condition of the ISBT.
Hridayesh said she would soon hold talks with Chief Minister Harish Rawat on the issue. Significantly, the condition of the Dehradun ISBT remains dismal despite an earlier directive by the chief minister for its improvement. Few years ago, former chief minister N D Tiwari had staged a dharna at the ISBT on the same issue.
The ISBT Dehradun was built a decade ago as a joint venture between Ramky group and Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) under PPP mode. But after some years, the MDDA took over the maintenance of the ISBT.
Hriaydesh said a new ISBT which is being built in her Haldwani constituency in Kumaon region will now serve as a model bus terminal with facilities such as parking for 500 vehicles.
Hridayesh's anger is understandable as the UTC is planning to build 12-14 new ISBTs in the state.
Top officials said there had been a lingering dispute between Ramky Group and the MDDA over the maintenance of the ISBT and concession payment. "There should be a proper inquiry to ascertain what went wrong in the first PPP project of the state," said the official.
