Srinagar|Sept: 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has incurred more than Rs 13 crore on official vehicle-related expenses over the last three financial years, including over Rs 12 crore on repair and maintenance, according to a government reply to the Legislative Assembly.
The figures were furnished in response to a starred question raised by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania regarding the allotment and management of official vehicles.
As per the annexure attached to the reply, the State Motor Garages Department spent Rs 297.59 lakh on repair and maintenance of vehicles in 2023-24, Rs 436.76 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 472.76 lakh in 2025-26, taking the three-year total to Rs 1,207.11 lakh, or about Rs 12.07 crore.
The expenditure on petrol, oil and lubricants (POL) also increased from Rs 17.45 lakh in 2023-24 to Rs 19.34 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 35.27 lakh in 2025-26, totalling Rs 72.06 lakh.
The government also reported TA/DA expenditure of Rs 11.62 lakh, Rs 12.54 lakh and Rs 12.38 lakh during the three years respectively, amounting to Rs 36.54 lakh.
Together, the disclosed expenditure under these three heads stands at Rs 13.16 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
On the question of limiting officials to one government vehicle each, the government stated that there is currently no specific uniform policy prescribing a ceiling on the allotment or retention of official vehicles across government departments, PSUs, boards and autonomous bodies.
However, it said a Revised Car Policy is under consideration and proposes the principle of “One Vehicle-One Officer”, with exceptions based on security requirements, field duties, additional assignments, operational exigencies and functional requirements.
The government further disclosed that a committee constituted under Government Order No. 321-JK(GAD) of 2021 is examining the issue and has framed a draft Government Vehicle Management Policy, 2026, which is presently under consideration.
The reply also stated that the State Motor Garages Department conducts periodic audit and physical verification of the government vehicle fleet.
