Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has slammed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for its report on procurement of low-floor buses by the state government. In its report, the CAG had criticised the Delhi Transport Corporation for purchasing the buses “at rates over and above the justified rate prepared by the technical committee of the corporation”. The CAG report further said that the government spent an additional Rs 168.94 crore on features such as automatic transmission system, retarder and anti-lock braking system which were unnecessary.

The chief minister defended her government, though, by saying that the idea was to bring in modern buses and that the CAG should have taken a holistic view rather than indulging in nitpicking. Dikshit added that contrary to the CAG's charge, Delhi had actually procured such buses by paying less than several other cities.

The question, however, arises as to whether cost should be the sole criterion for the CAG? Is it so difficult for the CAG to factor in issues such as the aspiration of a fast-developing city to catch up with the best capitals across the world? Don't citizens deserve better buses such as the ones Sheila has bought? If the government were to follow the mindset of the CAG, would Delhi ever get modern facilities?