Concerns Raised Over Use of Older Government Vehicles in West Bengal

Questions have been raised over the continued use of older vehicles by some government departments in West Bengal, particularly in view of regulations concerning vehicles that have completed 15 years of service.

According to information shared by a driver associated with the West Bengal Fisheries Department, an older departmental vehicle has reportedly been in use for a considerable period and has faced several technical issues, including engine-related problems, increased oil consumption and other maintenance concerns. Questions have also been raised regarding the insurance and fitness status of the vehicle.

Concerns have been expressed that some government departments may still be operating vehicles that are more than 15 years old. The continued use of such vehicles, if found to be non-compliant with applicable fitness and registration requirements, could raise questions regarding road safety and maintenance costs.

Older vehicles can require more frequent repairs and may involve higher expenditure on engine maintenance, spare parts, lubricants and other operational requirements. This has led to calls for government departments to regularly review the condition and documentation of their vehicle fleets.

There are also claims that some government vehicles may have outdated fitness documentation. Such claims would, however, need to be verified through official transport records and departmental documents.

Demand for verification

Citizens and concerned employees have urged the authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of government vehicles, including their age, fitness certificates, insurance status and maintenance expenditure. They have also called for appropriate action wherever vehicles are found to be operating in violation of applicable rules.

The concerned departments may also consider replacing vehicles that are no longer economically or technically suitable for regular official use.

Note: The concerns regarding the age, fitness, insurance and maintenance condition of government vehicles should be verified through official records. The concerned departments and authorities should be given an opportunity to clarify the status of the vehicles mentioned in the report.