The Tehran City Council, in a session dedicated to reviewing the audit reports for the year 1404, addressed issues related to the contract for supplying municipal goods and 784 legal cases against the metro operating company.
500 Billion Supply Contract
Nasser Amani, a member of the City Council, referred to a contract established for the purchase and distribution of fruits, meat, and consumables for municipal employees, with approximately 500 billion tomans allocated for it. Amani expressed concern that this contract might become a recurring issue in audit reports, stating: "My concern is that this matter will turn into something that remains as a repeated item in audit reports for years."
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Metro Legal Cases
Next, the topic of the metro operating company was raised. Reports indicated that 784 legal cases amounting to 930 billion rials have been filed against this company. Amani questioned who the plaintiffs in these cases are and whether most of them are contractors, employees, or citizens. He also mentioned the delay in paying the bonuses of the metro protection forces, stating: "These forces are in direct contact with the public, and delays in paying their claims have caused employee frustration."
The CEO of the metro operating company, Masoud Lotfi, in response to the concerns, announced that about 98 percent of the company's capital budget has been realized, and metro revenue in the year 1404 has increased by 77 percent compared to the previous year. However, he also pointed to the high costs of intercity lines, stating: "Since the start of the Hashtgerd metro operation until the end of Shahrivar, 700 billion tomans of costs have been recorded."
Health Status and Preventive Actions
Sudeh Najafi, another member of the City Council, referred to health issues during the session and cited a report from the Ministry of Health indicating that the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases has reached 11.7 percent. She called for enhanced ventilation and cleanliness in the metro and buses, utilizing the capacity of health houses, and pursuing flu vaccination for eligible groups. She also reminded that the plan to establish a waste secretariat during the epidemic has not yet been finalized.
At the end of the session, the audit reports and mandatory items were approved. These items included determining the tax status of the city guard and boundary guard companies, as well as unregistered claims and assets of intercity lines.
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