Bhubaneswar, Odisha government has regulated the use of official vehicles in view of the “fuel and power challenges” due to the West Asia crisis, stipulating that only officials of the rank of private secretary are entitled to an autonomous vehicle for official purposes.
A note issued by the Finance Ministry on Thursday said that officers promoted to the rank of Additional Secretary on or after June 1 should use official vehicles on a collective basis.
“They should become eligible for an autonomous vehicle only after completing three years of service at the rank of additional secretary,” she said.
However, this “does not apply to officers of the rank of Additional Secretary who, despite not having completed three years in rank, have already been assigned an autonomous vehicle for official use on or before 31 May.”
The memorandum also stipulated that officers with the rank of joint deputy secretary working in administrative departments, as well as officers of the same rank who work as department heads, may be provided with joint vehicles.
She said at least two to three officers should share a vehicle.
According to the memorandum, the instructions were issued “in light of the prevailing fuel and energy challenges resulting from the recent West Asia crisis.”
“The monthly discount must be for the use of an official vehicle $“1,680 regardless of the rank of the officer as stipulated in the Finance Ministry memorandum,” an official said.
During official visits to remote locations within the State, officers should, to the extent possible, use buses or trains rather than official vehicles.
The memorandum stated: “These instructions must apply, with necessary modifications, to all government institutions in the state, independent institutions, universities and associations throughout the state.”
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