Bhubaneswar: Citing fuel and energy challenges arising from the West Asia crisis, the Odisha Finance Department has issued fresh instructions rationalizing allotment of official vehicles across state government offices.
In an official memorandum, the department said officers in the rank of Special Secretary and above will continue to be entitled to an independent vehicle for official use.
However, officers promoted to the rank of Additional Secretary on or after June 1, 2026, will use official vehicles on a pool basis. They will become eligible for an independent vehicle only after completing three years of service in that rank.
The condition will not apply to Additional Secretaries who have already been allotted an independent vehicle on or before May 31, 2026.
Officers from the rank of Under Secretary to Joint Secretary in Administrative Departments, and officers of equivalent rank in various Heads of Departments, will be provided pool vehicles. At least 2 to 3 officers must share one pool vehicle.
The monthly deduction for using an official pool vehicle has been fixed at Rs 1,680 for all ranks, as per Finance Department Memorandum No. 1613/F dated January 17, 2025.The government has also directed officers to use bus or rail for official tours to distant locations within the state as far as practicable, instead of official vehicles.
These instructions will apply to all State Government Undertakings, Autonomous Institutions, Universities, and Societies across Odisha. The Finance Department has sought strict compliance from all concerned.
