A third-party audit is being looked at as the solution for resolving issues related to lack of operation of GPS system in almost half the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses in Delhi.

Fitting public transport vehicles with GPS devices had been one of the measures that the government had planned on after the December 16 gangrape incident.

At present, there are around 3,900 DTC buses which have been fitted with GPS devices. Of these, almost 2,000 buses have their GPS devices either broken or stolen.

The issue has become a point of contention between the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) ? which is responsible for maintenance of the control room ? and the Transport department. Several letters have been exchanged between the agencies on the matter, with each blaming the other over this issue.

?The option of carrying out a third-party audit of GPS devices in DTC buses is being explored. The issue is that almost 2,000 buses are operating without a functional GPS device for several months now. Moreover, the information shared with us has lots of discrepancies. For instance, the GPS data shows that a bus has not left the depot when it has been found plying on its route,?? a source said.

However, it is the lack of daily reports that seems to be the thorn in DTC?s side.

?Without reports, it is difficult to pinpoint actual violations. Also, it is very difficult to come up with measures to check these violations if we don?t know what they are,? a DTC official said.

Meanwhile, DIMTS claimed that they have not received any payment for their services since July last year and have been asking for a third-party audit too.

?Transport department has access to all data available with us. We provide them all other information that they require. DIMTS has, in fact, been asking Transport department to file FIRs in cases where these GPS devices have been stolen. Till the time we don?t receive payments for installing new devices, how will we install them?? a DIMTS spokesperson said.

DTC officials, however, claimed that it had filed FIRs over stolen GPS devices as and when cases were brought to their notice.