Money for Nothing? AMC Pays ₹2.64 Crore Rent for 21 Electric Cars Worth ₹2 Crore, Leaves Them to Collect Dust

Ahmedabad: Even as the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) prepares to table its massive annual budget of nearly ₹17,000 crore, uncomfortable questions are being raised over fiscal discipline and accountability within the civic body. The latest controversy revolves around 21 electric cars procured on a rental basis—vehicles that have remained largely unused while draining public funds.

According to official records, AMC paid approximately ₹2.64 crore as rent over a five-year period for these 21 electric cars, even though their combined market value was estimated at around ₹2 crore. Ironically, instead of being deployed for official use, the vehicles have been lying idle at a municipal workshop, exposed to the elements and gradually deteriorating.

The electric cars were originally hired as part of AMC’s push towards sustainable mobility and reduced carbon emissions. However, the initiative appears to have remained largely on paper. Sources within the corporation claim the vehicles were never formally allotted to departments, nor was a clear operational plan put in place for their usage.

As a result, the cars reportedly suffered battery degradation and mechanical issues due to prolonged non-use, further reducing their utility and resale value. Despite this, rental payments continued uninterrupted, raising serious concerns over monitoring mechanisms and internal audits.

Civic activists and opposition leaders have slammed the AMC for what they describe as “financial mismanagement” and “wasteful expenditure of public money.” They argue that outright purchasing the vehicles would have been more economical, or at the very least, proper utilisation should have been ensured.

“The fact that AMC ended up paying more in rent than the actual worth of the vehicles, without even using them, highlights a complete lack of planning and accountability,” said a local civic watchdog.

With the city corporation gearing up to present its annual budget, the issue has added fuel to ongoing debates over transparency in public spending. Citizens and activists are now demanding a detailed inquiry to identify those responsible for approving the rental agreement and failing to ensure utilisation of the vehicles.

So far, AMC officials have maintained that the matter is under review, but no clear explanation has been offered as to why the electric cars remained unused for years while public money continued to flow.

As Ahmedabad residents grapple with rising civic taxes and service charges, the sight of expensive electric vehicles gathering dust at a municipal workshop has become a stark symbol of misplaced priorities and questionable governance.