Maharashtra’s MEMS 108 Ambulance Project…
Do you all know that a few Ministers of the Government and opposition members often join hands to stage a coup to sabotage a project? The minute they see a huge project, at first if the project is not going to the regular politicians backed companies, and if the project has been awarded to a new entrant, I am telling you, this company/person has to go through hell. A new player entered into the market from Pune to give us Maharashtrians, a world class abundance service. For this a tender was published in September 2023 of Rs.10,000 crores for a period of 10 years–to provide ambulances all across Maharashtra; it was awarded to a company named “Sumeet Facilities Limited India in consortium with SSG from Spain and BVG India”. Earlier this project was taken care solely by BVG and if you want to see the quality of how it is operated and what it delivered then go see the condition of the ambulance that is in the Chief Minister’s cavalry or one parked at Sahyadri Guest House. The file to move ahead for “Sumeet” is stuck at the finance department for 4 months by one ‘Dada’ Minister. Another Dada, a younger but old looking but of the same family, has filed an affidavit in a PIL in the court. The authenticity of this affidavit, which was made at Hyderabad, is submitted to the Attorney General just to check. I am sure the ‘loopholes’ of the affidavit will be submitted in the court. This is just the beginning to tell you how a project gets sabotaged in Maharashtra. And mind you, those who we commoners think are enemies in the powerful homes, everyone from those in government to those who are in opposition have come together to stop this noble project which is very close to CM Shinde’s heart.
Taking care of opposition is ‘mandatory’ these days for any small or big contractor in Maharashtra, be it any government. Even if the Minister of the said department is taken care off, the opposition members have to be approached and compensated; you will ask why? Is there any doubt or suspicion in regard to the company that the opposition has to manage? No, it is like a mandatory rule in Maharashtra for any contractor…that’s it!! But look at the audacity of a few opposition leaders. Just to get a bigger share, these leaders, even after getting their pockets filled, will raise issues in Vidhan Bhavan. When confronted why it was raised in Vidhan Bhavan, the leader told someone close to him that he was instigated by the Ministers of the Government. Ridiculous, right? Return back the money then….
Please understand the project before jumping to conclusion. Just because the number is Rs. 10,000 crores our politicians think it is their birthright to blackmail and extort money. This Rs. 10,000 crores is for 10 years, that comes to approx Rs. 800 crores per annum; presently for half the fleet of ambulances running in Maharashtra, government is spending 400+ Crores; so its a simple mathematics that some people don’t understand and shout “CORRUPTION CORRUPTION of 6000 Crores”. CM Shinde, your own Ministers and opposition have shook hands to sabotage this dream project of yours. No PRO or your N number of staff you have will tell you this because even they don’t know what should be told to you and what not. Media is well oiled to report distorting facts without confirming anything from the company. There might be discrepancies but again, which project of our state is fully transparent and as per policy drafted.
The project–the old one was 100% government funded while this one is PPP DBFOT model -51% Capex investment by Service provider and 49% by the Government. The number of fleets was 937 whereas now there will be 1756 ambulances of various types with High End Life Saving European make Medical Devices. The ambulances provided by the old company were of old basic Indian standard whereas the new fleets (1756) will be complying with AIS standard+ high end European standard. The old company provided basic mobile phones whereas the new fleet will have MDT, Tablet PC, RFID, GPS, Caller location tracking, CCTV, Triage, CRM, CAD, VTMS, and patient arrival intimation system. Introduction of this new fleet will be delivering a high degree of social impact, to introduce best medical transport and treatment for EMS projects in India and to bring wide scale reform in the Healthcare Sector across Maharashtra. There are thousands of advantages to go with Sumeet, those who want to know about it, send him a DM.
But this is not done, Government of Maharashtra. A new entrant is harassed, forced to take a competitor as a compulsory partner and not going ahead with such an important project in time is such a shame! How will Maharashtra go ahead with such an attitude and shamelessness of politicians? Just by joining hands or coming with the BJP, even if they put you in the washing machine with extra liquid sop, you still remain dirty.
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
