Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Finance Department has issued strict instructions mandating that government and public sector departmental vehicles should only be used within the jurisdiction of their respective offices.

Violations of this directive will result in disciplinary action against the responsible official, including the driver or the person using the vehicle.

The order applies to boards, grant-in-aid institutions, constitutional bodies, autonomous organizations, and local self-government institutions. The decision is part of the government's cost-cutting measures after it was observed that official vehicles were frequently being used for long-distance travel beyond their designated areas.

Reports have indicated that some officials have been using government vehicles for personal purposes, including commuting to and from their residences, as well as for private errands during office hours. The Finance Department noted that curbing such misuse could significantly reduce unnecessary expenditures. The directive has been circulated to all relevant departments.

However, officials have raised concerns about practical challenges in implementing the order. Local self-government bodies, for instance, often require official vehicles for attending court proceedings, district planning committee meetings, and interdepartmental events.