Around 100 former members of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO)’s board of directors are enjoying 40% discount on food, beverages and room rent at its hotels — Mountview, Shivalikview and Parkview — since 1995.
While in service or being associated with CITCO, they enjoyed 50% discount.
HT on Tuesday highlighted how CITCO plans to offer up to 30% discount — in form of privilege cards — to bureaucrats, judges and other senior officers, even from Punjab and Haryana, at the loss-making eateries.
The practice of privilege cards has been continuing since 1995. Even babus who are not associated with CITCO anymore and non-official members whose term gets expired get a lifelong concession of 40%.
{{/usCountry}}The practice of privilege cards has been continuing since 1995. Even babus who are not associated with CITCO anymore and non-official members whose term gets expired get a lifelong concession of 40%.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, officers of the rank of general manager, who used to enjoy 50% discount on a par with the board of directors till 2008, now enjoy 40% discount, but not after retirement.
There are eight members in the board of directors. UT home secretary heads the board and other members include UT finance secretary, deputy commissioner, tourism director and CITCO managing director. The non-official members are presidents of the Industry Association of Chandigarh, Confederation of Indian Industry council and Hotels and Restaurant Association of Northern India.
“I was not aware of discounts being offered to former directors,” said UT home secretary and CITCO board chairman Anurag Aggarwal. “I will review the schemes to minimise the number of beneficiaries.”
MD’s personal ride costs him just 50p/km
Even as petrol costs around Rs 70 per litre, the CITCO managing director continues to enjoy ride on his official vehicle for personal use at 50 paise per kilometre.
The agenda was approved around 25 years back, but to date, no change has been made to the rates.
Meanwhile, two of the CITCO’s establishments — Baithak at Kalagram and Drop In at Sector 34 — remain shut, mounting its losses, as reported by HT on Tuesday.
CITCO was incorporated as a company in March 1974. It was originally known as Chandigarh Small Industries Development Corporation (CSIDC) and got additional functions of promoting tourism and other related activities in 1982.