Team Herald
PANJIM: The Government has mandated that all the heads of the departments will hire vehicles from the open market through tenders or quotations with prior approval from the Transport Department.
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An order issued by the Finance Department, said, “It has been observed that various departments face difficulties as regards to flexibility of working hours of vehicles hired from Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). It is also noticed that despite office vehicles being present in working condition, vehicles are being hired and some are being used by non-eligible category of staff. Further, non-field functionaries who are not entitled to vehicles also use these vehicles for commutation purposes. Hence, for better price discovery in order to cut down the cost and to provide flexibility of timing to the various user departments, it has been decided by the government that henceforth, all the heads of the departments shall mandatorily hire the vehicles from the open market through call of tenders or quotations.”
The order has said that the departments that have engaged vehicles from the open market or GTDC will resubmit all such proposals for approval of the Finance Department after the expiry of the engagement of the current duration.
The instructions will also be applicable to the vehicles engaged by the works executing departments such as Public Works Department (PWD), Electricity, Water Resources Department (WRD), Agriculture, Rural Development Agency (RDA), Panchayat, etc even if such vehicles are hired against the work.
The order has said that the Directorate of Accounts will not entertain the bills of vehicles hired by departments without prior approval of the Finance Department.
“Prior approval of the Finance Department shall be mandatorily obtained before any codal formalities are initiated for hiring of vehicles. The category of vehicles to be hired shall be based on the designation or rank of the officer and monthly billing shall be restricted within minimum working hours and distance kilometres,” the order has said.
