BOMBED OUT OF SLUMBER, AMC TO GET INSURANCE COVER FOR ITS BUSES

Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad has borne the brunt of both man-made and natural disasters in the recent past, taking a toll on both life and property. Over the years, the city has grown by leaps and bounds, adding public assets worth billions to its pride; a host of bridges, installations like pumping stations, water tanks, hospitals and other buildings to name a few. But curiously, none of these have an insurance cover against sabotage or damage due to terror attacks even as the threats loom larger than ever before.

Now, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is considering whether to provide an insurance cover to its much-hyped Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). AMC standing committee chairman Asit Vora said the general view that installations like bridges and other buildings do not require insurance cover is possibly because of the high premium involved, which often acts as a deterrent. "There has never been any insurance cover for all these structures and we do not see any need for it,” said Vora.

Incidentally, the civic body has also not gone for the insurance of its city buses because of the high premium involved. Also, it finds it convenient to pay compensation as and when accidents occur rather than pay the high premium regularly. But in view of the recent terror attack, the AMC is considering an insurance cover for the BRT installations in the city, said BRT in-charge D Thara.

As a matter of precaution, the civic authorities, with the help of the police, recently had the installations checked thoroughly, when it received threat calls, which later turned out be hoaxes. Insurance experts opine that the civic body is a government in itself and there is no need for it to get its installations insured. “The government is exempted from getting its assets insured … if work on some project is in progress, the contractor may go for the insurance of that project to cover the risk on investment,” said Ajay Dave, an insurance surveyor in the city.

He said the government has been in insurance cover activity to the extent of group insurance of persons like students in schools, employees and labourers under the social security schemes.

Source: The Indian Express