27 vehicles with 26 Himachal bureaucrats used approx 40k litre fuel, cost Rs 38L in 2024: RTI

The data, compiled from 324 logbook vouchers, lists 27 fuel-based vehicles—including a Toyota Camry, four Innova Crystas, five Innovas, and 11 Corolla Altis cars. Each voucher details total kilometres covered, break-up of official, local, and private use, fuel drawn and consumed, vehicle mileage, and total expenditure.

Under state rules, an IAS officer can use a government vehicle for up to 250 km of private travel per month (3,000 km annually). Any excess use must be reimbursed. The RTI reply revealed that in 2024, four officers—two IAS and two HPAS—exceeded this limit and paid the difference from their own pockets.

A senior IAS officer told The Indian Express on condition of anonymity, “Rs 900 is deducted monthly from each officer’s salary towards vehicle attachment charges, which covers the permissible 250 km of private travel. Any additional fuel used privately is reimbursed by the officer. Touring expenses are borne by the state.”

In December 2023, CM Sukhu had directed all departments to procure only electric vehicles under his Green-Clean Himachal initiative. However, officials said fuel-based vehicles continue to dominate government travel, with e-vehicle procurement now tied to the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-Up Yojana that offers a 50% subsidy on e-taxis, e-buses, and e-trucks.

An official from the Transport Department explained, “Initially, there was a plan to replace all departmental vehicles with e-vehicles, but it was later linked to employment generation. Many existing fuel vehicles still have operational life left, so e-vehicles will be inducted in phases. Even the CM now uses one.”

Key figures (2024):

• Total distance covered: 3,01,615 km
• Touring: 1,33,680 km
• Local duty: 1,39,571 km
• Private use: 25,622 km
• Fuel drawn: 45,539 litres
• Fuel consumed: 39,381 litres
• Fuel balance: 6,173 litres
• Total cost: Rs 37,95,523