Bhubaneswar, 01 June (H.S.): In response to the ongoing fuel and energy challenges stemming from the West Asia crisis and the rising expenditure on conventional fuels, the Odisha government has directed all departments to procure only electric vehicles (EVs) for official use, subject to specified cost ceilings for different categories of officials.

The Finance Department issued the new guidelines through an Office Memorandum dated May 30, 2026. Under the revised policy, all new vehicles purchased by government departments for official purposes must be electric and comply with the prescribed maximum price limits.

According to the memorandum, the cost ceiling has been fixed at ₹30 lakh for the Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Justice and Judges of the Orissa High Court, and Ministers. Senior administrative officers, including the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, and officers of equivalent rank, will be entitled to EVs costing up to ₹25 lakh. For District Judges, Collectors, Superintendents of Police, and equivalent officers, the maximum permissible cost has been set at ₹20 lakh.

The guidelines stipulate that procurement of EVs must follow prescribed procedures and can be undertaken only after obtaining concurrence from the Finance Department. New vehicles may be purchased only after the completion of the prescribed lifespan of the existing vehicle and its subsequent condemnation or scrapping.

Departments have also been advised to procure vehicles through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform wherever feasible. The memorandum further specifies that only EVs manufactured by Tata Motors, Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki will be eligible for purchase under the policy.

In a move aimed at ensuring prudent use of public resources, the government has prohibited officers of Principal Secretary rank and above from procuring more than one official vehicle.

The procurement of petrol and diesel vehicles has been largely restricted and will be permitted only under exceptional circumstances with prior approval from the Finance Department.

The new policy will apply not only to state government departments but also to government-supported undertakings, institutions, universities, and societies functioning under the state government.

The order, issued with the approval of the Governor, came into effect on June 1, 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda