BHUBANESWAR: As fuel and energy challenges arising from the recent West Asia crisis continue, the Odisha government has issued a set of strict instructions on the use of official vehicles.
According to an order issued by the governor, officers in the rank of Special Secretary and above shall be entitled to an independent vehicle for official purposes.
Similarly, officers promoted to the rank of Additional Secretary on or after June 1 shall use official vehicles on a pool basis. The order further stated that they shall become eligible for an independent vehicle only upon completion of three years of service in the rank of Additional Secretary.
However, this shall not apply to officers in the rank of Additional Secretary who, despite not having completed three years in the rank, had already been allotted an independent vehicle for official use on or before May 31.
The government notification, issued by the Finance Department, also stated that pool vehicles shall be provided to officers in the rank of Under Secretary to Joint Secretary working in administrative departments, as well as officers of equivalent rank working in various heads of departments.
At least two to three officers shall share one pool vehicle, the notification said.
According to Finance Department Memorandum No. 1613/F dated January 17, 2025, the monthly deduction for the use of an official pool vehicle shall be Rs 1,680, irrespective of the officer’s rank.
Officers undertaking official tours to distant locations within the state have been advised to travel by bus or rail instead of using official vehicles, as far as practicable.
The above instructions shall apply mutatis mutandis to all state government undertakings, autonomous institutions, universities, and societies across the state.
