Organising the Republic Day Parade at India Gate is an enormous task but
the Defence Ministry manages to make it memorable and exclusive year after
year. The Ministry is ably aided by the CPWD which takes care of logistics like
chairs, barricading, decoration, ‘Salaami Manch’ etc., and other infrastructure
modalities. The job begins in October each year when the CPWD issues tenders
for logistics support; it spends around Rs. 1.25 crore on logistics. The most
reputed tentwallah is engaged for the job. Approximately 90,000 chairs of all
quality are arranged for visiting dignitaries. The CPWD and contractors have to
hand over the complete India Gate site after making all stipulated arrangements
to Army personnel by January 15 each year. It’s a drill. But there is another
drill that is carried out without raising an eyelid. The moment the Beating
Retreat is over on January 29, the contractors have to pack up and vacate India
Gate by February 10 each year. This is the time when some CPWD mandarins become
active. One will be surprised to know every year out of 90,000 chairs approximately
4,000 chairs and other logistic support goes missing. When gfiles enquired
about this annual theft, it was disclosed that some of the lower CPWD staff run
tent houses in their spare time and they shamelessly take away the chairs every
year after the Republic Day parade. There is no theft report filed by
contractors!
No comments:
Post a Comment