MMRDA splurges `3.54L in redesigning new logo

What could be called as complete lackadaisical and unprofessional conduct of the officers of the Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), it has spent whopping Rs 3.54 lakh in redesigning its new logo to give it a corporate look. To make the thing even worst, this small ticket project took full four years to complete it. This has been revealed by an Right to Information (RTI) query filed by RTI activist Anil Gavali.

Activist Anil Galgali had filed an RTI query with MMRDA and had sought details of money spent on re-designing of its new logo. Replying the query, MMRDA establishment department of the body stated that it outsourced the job of re-designing its corporate like new logo to M/s Design ORB and paid Rs 3 lakh in two instalments. MMRDA also paid Rs 54,000 as CGST and SGST, taking total expenditure up to Rs 3.54 lakh to its exchequer.

According to the invoice, attached with the RTI reply, M/s Design ORB firm is registered under speciality design service including interior design, fashion design, industrial design and other speciality design services.

The copy of the establishment department note, which was attached with the reply, said that the aim to redesigning its new logo was to have a new logo reflect the essence of the organisation that is positive, stable, professional, cropoate look and reliable.

The copy reads, "MMRDA need to have a professionally re-designing its new logo. The current logo is carried out from the beginning of the organisation.,"

“So there is need to have and freshly designed company logo which identify the area of the operation and bring out its essence,” administrative note filed on July 10, 2015 said.

Notably, the current logo was being used used by since last 44 years by the MMRDA, when this body came into existence. MMRDA estimated 30 lakhs another expenditure for change this old logo to new logo.

This initiative of changing the logo, was not welcomed by the activist Anil Galgali, who termed it "unnecessary and wasteful" expenditure.

Galgagi said, "MMRDA should first and foremost prove itself by executing the various long-pending projects in time. This logo-redesigning project itself shown mirror to the agency that it took over four years to change the logo. One can easily understand why MMRDA take so long to execute any project,".

Galgali also said that MMRDA should rather focus to provide its qualitative services to the people, rather being involved in wasteful expenditures."