TN govt multiplies vehicle repair expenses

CHENNAI: The State government has doubled the expenditure for repairs in lower-end vehicles owned by government departments and tripled the same for higher-end cars, revising norms unchanged since 2004.

A government order dated October 7, issued by the Home (Transport-IV) department, raised the ceiling for lower-end LMVs like Mahindra Bolero and Tata Spacio by per cent and higher-end cars like Toyota Innova and Honda City by 200 per cent. The ceiling for heavy vehicles, including those manufactured by Leyland, Mercedes-Benz, Swaraj Mazda and Eicher, has been doubled.

A committee constituted under a GO dated November 15, 2024, made the recommendations for revision to rationalise policies on departmental vehicles. The committee, which met on June 25, 2025, recommended raising the limits, citing the increase in vehicle prices, spare parts costs and servicing charges over the preceding two decades. The Director of the Motor Vehicle Maintenance Department had also sought a revision in a letter dated August 18, 2025.

Under Rule 15 (2) of the Tamil Nadu Departmental Vehicles Control Rules, 1976, the officer in charge of a government vehicle is authorised to incur expenditure on repairs and spare parts replacement within limits prescribed by the government.

The revised ceilings are intended to facilitate the efficient and safe maintenance of departmental vehicles in line with prevailing market costs. The recent GO also stipulates that the limits represent maximum permissible expenditure and do not entitle departments to spend the entire amount.

Departments have been directed to exercise economy and avoid unnecessary replacements.