Consumer body urges DVAC probe into Coimbatore's ₹2.64 crore bus shelter spending

Avinashi Road, one of Coimbatore's busiest corridors, connects the city to its airport and several industrial estates. The state government's flyover project on this stretch was a major infrastructure initiative aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving commute times for thousands of daily travellers. With the city's growing population, bus shelters have become an essential part of the public transport infrastructure. As part of the project, funds were allocated for ancillary works, including the construction of bus bays and shelters, to benefit public transport users. Now, a consumer rights group has raised concerns about how a portion of these funds was utilised.

Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC), a city-based consumer forum, has approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) seeking a probe into the alleged misuse of ₹2.64 crore sanctioned for 32 bus bays and shelters on both sides of Avinashi Road. In a petition dated July 14, CCC secretary K. Kathirmathiyon has urged the anti-corruption wing to verify the sanction, release, and utilisation of the money and to examine the role of officials in the Highways Department and the Coimbatore Corporation.

According to the petition, the Highways Department was originally sanctioned the funds for the shelters as part of the Avinashi Road flyover project. However, on March 24, 2025, the department transferred ₹2.64 crore to the Coimbatore Corporation for the construction of the bus shelters. The petitioner has questioned the basis of this inter-departmental transfer and has sought a detailed breakdown of the expenditure incurred by the Corporation. He has also asked whether the Corporation followed the due process in spending the money and whether the contractors involved were selected through a transparent tendering process.

The consumer body has also raised questions about the technical quality of the shelters. It has asked whether the construction adhered to the norms prescribed by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC). The forum has sought to know whether the expenditure was in line with the sanctioned purpose and whether the structures meet the prescribed standards for bus shelters on a major arterial road. It has also asked for details of the drawings and designs approved by the authorities.

One of the key allegations in the petition is that the bus shelters have been carrying commercial advertisements for nearly a year. The forum has questioned whether the shelters were actually funded and erected using the ₹2.64 crore released by the government, or whether they were constructed through advertising agencies, as is the usual practice for commercially sponsored bus shelters. It has also asked whether such commercial use is permissible under applicable government, court, and IRC norms, and whether the revenue from the advertisements has been accounted for by the authorities.

Further, the petitioner has sought to ascertain whether the Highways Department was aware of or had consented to the commercial use of these government-funded shelters. The forum has argued that if the shelters were built with public money, any revenue generated through advertisements should rightfully accrue to the government, and the unauthorised commercialisation would amount to a misuse of funds. It has requested the DVAC to investigate whether any officials have benefited from the arrangement or acted in violation of rules.

Mr. Kathirmathiyon has urged the DVAC to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. He has sought recovery of the amount and its crediting back to the government account if it is found that the funds were not used for the sanctioned purpose. He has also demanded action against those found responsible for the irregularities, including any officials who may have abetted the alleged misuse. The petitioner has also suggested that the DVAC should conduct a spot inspection of the bus shelters to verify their physical condition and the presence of commercial advertisements.

The DVAC, which is tasked with investigating corruption and malpractices by public servants, will now examine the petition and decide on the course of action. It may conduct a preliminary inquiry or register a case based on the merits of the complaint. The investigation could involve collecting records from both the Highways Department and the Corporation, as well as examining officials responsible for the project. This case highlights the importance of transparency in infrastructure spending and the need for strict oversight of funds allocated for public projects. The outcome of the investigation is likely to have a bearing on how similar projects are monitored in the future.