Keralam Government to buy new vehicles for Ministers and Chief Secretary

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The State Government has decided to purchase 24 new cars for the official use of the Ministers and the Chief Secretary on the grounds that the existing vehicles have “considerably deteriorated in their mechanical condition due to prolonged use.”

The General Administration Department has issued orders for the purchase of 24 Toyota Innova Hycross (ZX(O) Strong Hybrid) vehicles which include 22 for the use of the Ministers and Chief Secretary Bishwananth Sinha and two for the use of State guests.

The procurement is estimated to cost ₹9.60 crore, but the actual expenditure would be determined based on the prevailing rates and applicable charges at the time of procurement, the GAD order noted.

The decision has sparked a debate as Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, on taking charge in May this year, had decided to use a car that was already in use, saying that the Government would forego unnecessary expenditure amid financial stress. He had also decided to do away with the Chief Minister’s motorcade. In September, the Minister for Local Bodies K. M. Shaji’s decision to use a luxury sports utility vehicle, purportedly borrowed from a businessperson friend of his, as his official vehicle had courted controversy.

According to the November 12 order, the Tourism Department has been entrusted with the task of procuring the vehicles.

The vehicles presently being used by most of the Ministers for official purposes have become old and have considerably deteriorated in their mechanical condition due to prolonged use, the GAD order noted. “They require frequent repairs and maintenance, resulting in increased expenditure and affecting their reliability and availability for official duties. The need for suitable and well-maintained vehicles for the Ministers to attend official engagements, meetings, field visits and various government functions also necessitates the periodic replacement of the existing vehicles,” it said.

Vehicles presently available with the government for protocol purposes are also inadequate to meet the growing requirements arising from the visits of VIPs, foreign dignitaries and other distinguished guests to the State, the Department noted.