Punjab Govt’s ADTT Tender ‘A Scam in the Making’, Says Road Safety Expert Dr. Kamal Soi

Punjab Govt’s ADTT Tender ‘A Scam in the Making’, Says Road Safety Expert Dr. Kamal Soi

Chandigarh 12 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : International Road Safety Expert Dr. Kamal Soi, Chairman of Raahat – The Safe Community Foundation and Society for Corruption Free India (SCFI), has alleged that the Punjab Government’s newly floated tender for Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTT) is a “scam in the making” and designed to benefit a select few private players. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh Press Club on Friday, Dr. Soi recalled the April 2025 crackdown by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which exposed a massive bribe-for-license racket across Regional Transport Authority offices and driving test tracks in the state. The raids had led to 24 arrests, 16 FIRs, and the suspension of senior officials, including an ADGP, an SSP (Vigilance), and an AIG-rank officer. Back then, he also highlighted the deliberate delay by the State Transport Department in implementing HAMS technology by Microsoft India for driving license competency tests at SAS Nagar, Mohali – a pilot project that was ready for several months but intentionally kept on hold. Only after the matter was raised through the media, HAMS was implemented. To date, over 10,000 tests have been conducted using HAMS at the Testing Track, SAS Nagar, Mohali wherein the results are eye opening,  40 % passing rate at Mohali (HAMS – based test), in stark contrast to the 99% passing rate across the rest of Punjab – a grave concern, which even the Hon’ble Supreme Court has highlighted and reprimanded the State on multiple occasions. Despite the proven success of this pilot, the State Government has now issued an RFP under Tender Notification No: PSTS/ 1361, dated 05.09.2025 for Selection of Service Providers for Implementation, Operation and Maintenance of Automated Driving Test Track, Personalization of Driving License and providing other allied services for Punjab State Transport Society for a period of 5 years, which reeks of manipulation, favouritism and corruption. He urged the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Hon’ble Governor of Punjab to intervene at once and stop this mega scam in the making. Failing this, we may have no option but to knock at the doors of the judiciary to secure justice for the people of Punjab.

Key Red flags in the RFP – Proof of a SCAM

Exclusion of Proven Technology: Despite HAMS technology proving its effectiveness, the RFP completely overlooks it and instead calls for video analytics-based systems—the very technology deployed earlier so far, which has been misused and exploited for years. Why reject what works, unless there are hidden interests? If the Department considers the HAMS pilot as unsuccessful, it should declare it so officially. However, if the pilot is acknowledged as successful, there is no logical justification for not implementing it across the State. Anything else raises serious doubts about intent and transparency.” Scope of Work: The RFP seeks to bundle together unrelated activities—technology delivery, driving license printing, and helpdesk operation into a single tender, an absurd structure designed with ulterior motives. Moreover, the pre-qualification criteria demanding identical experience for both testing and printing is highly questionable. This tender design is tailor-made to suit certain private players, rather than ensuring fair competition or public interest.” Civil work for New Sewa Kandra’s: The RFP mandates the construction of new RTO Sewa Kendras at the Driving Test Tracks by the selected bidders. However, a key concern arises — where exactly is the designated space within these Tracks to accommodate such construction? Proof of Concept (POC) Eyewash: Clause 13.4.2 of the RFP demand bidders to demonstrate a fully functional ADTT system during the evaluation of the bid. It carries 30% weightage in the evaluation process. This requirement is nothing short of an eyewash. Such a demonstration would require bidders to first upgrade an existing track, install and integrate new infrastructure, set up servers, and deploy software applications—all before being awarded the contract. Since all ADTT tracks in Punjab are operational, it is practically impossible for bidders to carry out such large-scale upgrades merely for a pre-bid demonstration. This makes the clause nothing but a pretext to eliminate genuine competition. Monopoly Creation: Clause 13.5.2 (10) allows the Government to award multiple or all zones to a single bidder if “insufficient bidders” qualify. This clause is a blatant attempt to favour one pre-selected private player, ensuring monopolistic control. Exorbitant Costs for people: The per-test fee has been left uncapped, unlike the MoRTH-recommended Rs. 300/test. This will allow cartels to fix inflated rates, with the burden ultimately falling on Punjab’s citizens. Earlier, the State Government was implementing this project at zero cost through CSR initiatives. Now, by shifting to this RFP model, the Government not only forgoes its existing revenue but also imposes an unjustified financial burden onto Punjabis – a double blow of corruption and exploitation.

Call for Immediate Action

Demanding urgent intervention, Dr. Soi urged the Punjab Government t withdraw the current RFP, implement HAMS technology across all test tracks without delay, ensure transparency and fairness in the licensing process and protect citizens from cartel-driven costs.