Delay in auction leaves over 100 government vehicles to rust away at Telangana Secretariat

On the immediate right side of the parking area of the Telangana State Secretariat, lie many abandoned Ambassadors and Maruti Esteems.

Several such vehicles, bearing "Govt vehicle" logos, have been gathering dust- some for years- after being dumped at the the parking area of the Secretariat situated near NTR Gardens in Tankbund, Hyderabad.

While some of the cars seem visibly damaged, few look to be in good condition.

"Some of them are over 10 years old, some nearly five years old and a few less than a year old. No one maintains them," said Rambabu, a security personnel in the Secretariat.

As many as 102 vehicles have been lying in that condition for years.

"Most of the vehicles, which are more than 15 years old and have travelled over 2 lakh kilometres will be condemned soon. This means that the government will declare the vehicles to be of no use anymore. After getting clearance from the Road Transport Authority, they will be put up for auction. So far two vehicles have been condemned," said an official from the General Administration Department (GAD).

He also stated that it was due to a shortage of staff, as many officials left Hyderabad after the bifurcation, that the auction process hasn't been initiated yet. Nearly 13,000 officials from state government Secretariat and various heads of departments had shifted from Hyderabad to Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh last year.

Nearly 30 such vehicles that lie abandoned in the Secretariat's parking space were used by officials of united Andhra Pradesh, who are now in Amravati. 

He also said that some officials from Telangana purchased new cars even though the old vehicles were in good condition.

"Over 20 vehicles that are in good condition have some technical issues. They will be restored after the traffic challans are cleared. They will then be handed over to the concerned departments," the GAD official said. He added that they are yet to find out which vehicle belongs to which department and since there are 33 departments, the process will take time.