Chandigarh, March 1 (IANS): The first amphibious bus in Punjab, launched with much fanfare to promote tourism by former Deputy Chief Minister and Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Badal during the previous government's tenure, has plied for just 10 days and put a burden of Rs 8.63 crore on the exchequer.

This fact came to light in a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that was tabled in the Congress-ruled state assembly last week.

The auditor observed the site selected for implementation of the project was without preparation of any feasibility study report of the project by way of evaluation of its technical, financial and administrative aspects.

At the discussion of the feasibility at a meeting of the committee led by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Principal Secretary, it was observed as per the minutes of the meetings of the committee that it deliberated upon implementation of the project at Harike wetlands rather than assessing the feasibility, said the report.

Further, the bus was operated only for 10 days whereas the committee, constituted (February 2018) to examine the unviable project, was of the opinion that financial viability can only be assessed after running the amphibious bus for a minimum period of six months to one year.

A Deputy Secretary admitted in 2019 to the facts that no feasibility report was prepared but feasibility of the project was discussed in the various meetings of the technical committee constituted in October 2015.

He said during the discussion with the state government, number of trips, estimated number of tourists and amount of revenue expected to be generated was discussed at the top level.

As such, it is incorrect to say that no feasibility was worked out.

The CAG observed the government reply was unacceptable as the site was selected for implementation of the project without preparation of any feasibility study report of the project by way of evaluation of the technical, financial and administrative aspects of the project.

In 10 days, the bus earned a meagre Rs 70,600. It was on December 12, 2016, that Sukhbir had launched the amphibious bus in Harike wetlands.

Officials told IANS that when trial runs to operate the amphibious bus was carried out, villagers near the Harike wetlands in Ferozepur had accused then Shiromani Akali Dal government of destroying their crops by over flooding the lake.

They said it failed to take off due to inadequate depth in the water body.

In 2018, then Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu announced to auction the amphibious bus.