Punjab officers to get hired vehicles

Chandigarh, Dec 6 (IANS) To cut down on expenses incurred on government vehicles, the Punjab government has decided to provide hired vehicles to officers, it was announced Friday.

"It has been estimated by the department of transport that the cost of running a government vehicle was about Rs.74,000 per month, whereas the cost for a private vehicle of a reasonable make is about Rs.40,000 per month.

"In the light of austerity measures, the decision of the finance department will be a step forward to reduce avoidable expenditure of the government," said a spokesman of the finance department here.

The vehicles to be hired in future will be as per the entitlement of officers to increase touring and inspection of works in the field.

The spokesman said that for transparency in the system of hiring, the vehicles will be taken on rent from the open market by way of tendering process for which head of department will be the competent authority.

"With this system in place, there will be no shortage of vehicles in government offices and the general public will also benefit with increased quality of work and provision of better services to them due to enhanced monitoring," the spokesman said.

Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa has taken the decision on hiring vehicles with the approval of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.