RTI effect: Metro told to ensure transparency, update website

[sidmis]

RTI effect: Metro told to ensure transparency, update website

As reported by Utkarsh Anand, June 28, 2008, ExpressIndia

New Delhi, June 27 It’s time the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) updated its website so as to bring in public domain certain vital information regarding its functioning and policies.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the DMRC to get in tune with the requirement of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, requiring a public body to digitise and publish its records on the Internet.

Reading from provisions of the RTI Act, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah directed DMRC to upload on its website (www.delhimetrorail.com) the funding pattern, necessitated to be disclosed under the transparency act.

There should also be a mention of the agencies, whose budgets are controlled by the DMRC; and further, a statement should be added to clear that there are no permits or authorisation granted by it in favour of any agency, the Commissioner said.

“Linkages will require to be created for details of administrative decisions regarding tenders awarded, property development projects and consultancy projects of DMRC and any other issue that the DMRC considers appropriate,” the Commission said in a recent decision.

The website should also detail DMRC’s quasi-judicial decisions for the knowledge of the affected persons/agencies, it said.

“A link has to be created to ease access to information on the present and proposed network of the Delhi Metro,” said Habibullah, adding that details of regulation of compensation for possible mishaps should also be uploaded.

The Commission’s directions came on a petition by Gita Dewan Verma, who, while seeking some information from the DMRC, had pointed out the deficiency in the corporation’s website.

Commending the complainant for bringing forth a vital issue, Habibullah said, “We place on record our appreciation of Verma’s very constructive use of the RTI Act.”

The Commission also appreciated DMRC officials for accepting the lacuna and assuring actions in the areas where the website required strengthening so to bring it in conformity with the RTI.

RTI effect: Metro told to ensure transparency, update website - ExpressIndia.Com