| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, Sep 16: The Arunachal Jankalyan Sangathan (AJS) has raised a series of demands concerning alleged financial irregularities, lack of transparency and governance-related issues in the Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS), including the operation of buses under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and pending issues faced by local vendors.
Addressing reporters at the Arunachal Press Club here on Wednesday, AJS chairman Nabam Tama alleged that work orders under the Transport Department were being awarded through a “give-and-take” system and to persons allegedly close to the Transport Minister Ojing Tasing. He alleged that this had affected efforts to resolve issues concerning APSTS.
Tama said a meeting was held on June 13, 2026, with Home Minister Mama Natung, Transport Minister Ojing Tasing, APSTS General Manager Mito Dirchi and the Deputy General Manager to discuss various issues concerning the transport service.
According to Tama, the Transport Minister had assured during the meeting that the issues raised by the AJS and the Arunachal Transport Supply Maintenance Vendor Association (ATSMVA) would be resolved within four months.
However, Tama alleged that the assurances had not been fulfilled by the minister or the department.
He further alleged that the Transport Minister had remained inaccessible regarding the issues raised by the organisations. Tama said the AJS subsequently approached Home Minister Mama Natung and a meeting has been scheduled for September 20.
“We shall go for a legal fight after the meeting with the Home Minister on September 20, as the Transport Minister is not interested in solving the issues raised,” Tama said.
Among its demands, the AJS sought termination of the existing APSTS-Sachkhand Public-Private Partnership agreement for Volvo and electric bus operations, alleging that the arrangement had caused financial losses.
The organisation also demanded an immediate halt to further expansion of e-bus services under the existing PPP model, citing alleged annual losses and financial pressure on local scheduled tribe MSMEs and workshop owners.
The AJS further sought a special inquiry and audit by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) into alleged revenue leakage and misuse of official powers. It also demanded clearance of pending bills of local tribal APSTS vendors.
On procurement and tendering, the organisation called for reforms to ensure transparency and alleged an end to offline tendering and “pick-and-choose” and “give-and-take” practices in awarding work orders.
The AJS urged the department to strictly adhere to applicable Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), General Financial Rules (GFR) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) guidelines in tendering and execution of works.