Ludhiana, Aug. 26 -- Senior deputy mayor Rakesh Parashar has flagged the idling of a state-of-the-art turntable ladder (TTL) fire brigade vehicle worth Rs.14.5 crore, which has remained unused for the past six months.

In a letter to the municipal commissioner, Parashar said the vehicle-procured to strengthen the city's firefighting capabilities-was rendered idle after the expiry of the maintenance and operational contract with Anlon Solution Technology Private Limited, the firm that had supplied trained staff to run it.

"With the contract ending, the company withdrew its employees, and since then the TTL has been standing unused, leading to huge financial losses to the Municipal Corporation," Parashar wrote.

He cautioned that the lapse...