Chhattisgarh: 400 vehicles meant for emergency aid lie in dust as BJP, Congress trade blame

In Chhattisgarh, 400 Bolero vehicles purchased in 2023 for the Dial-112 emergency services project are lying unused and deteriorating at the Amleshwar Battalion grounds of the CAF (Chhattisgarh Armed Forces) in Raipur. Meanwhile, the BJP and the Congress are trading blame over the issue.

Acquired by the erstwhile Congress-led government for Rs 40 crore, the vehicles were intended to extend emergency response coverage to 22 of 34 districts in the state, as the service has been implemented in 11 districts so far.

However, 15 months later, the vehicles remain unused, covered in dust, with damaged tyres, drained batteries, and rat-infested wiring.

The Dial-112 expansion project was stalled after the BJP government assumed office in December 2023. The new administration cancelled the tender issued under the Congress regime, labelling the contracted company a defaulter.

The BJP blamed the Congress, alleging irregularities in the original tender process. BJP spokesperson Gori Shankar Sriwas claimed that the project was mishandled from the beginning, which led to the cancellation of the initial tender.

No new tender has been finalised yet, leaving the vehicles idle and emergency services operational in only 11 of the state’s 34 districts.

Congress leader Dhananjay Singh Thakur blamed the BJP for halting the project and claimed that the lack of functional emergency services has contributed to rising crime rates in the state.

“The BJP government is wasting public money and neglecting the safety of the people,” Thakur said.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma assured the public that efforts are underway to restart the project. “We are working on the tender process, which may take 8–10 months. The revamped service will cover 22 districts next year,” he said.

IT firms are also being considered for collaboration on control room operations as part of the updated plan.

The Congress, however, has criticised the BJP government for the delay, accusing it of failing to prioritise public safety.