Archive · 24 Dec 2025
Odisha Orders Special Audit on Rs 12 Crore All-Terrain Vehicles Purchase
The Odisha government is checking the purchase of 51 special vehicles for forest workers.
These vehicles cost Rs 12.35 crore, with Rs 7.1 crore spent on buying them and Rs 5.25 crore on making them suitable for forest work.
The minister in charge, Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, said a special team will look into the spending to see if there were any mistakes.
The vehicles are used for things like putting out forest fires, protecting animals, and stopping illegal logging.
The minister said if anyone did something wrong, they will be punished.
This check was asked for after a lawmaker questioned the spending in the state's assembly.
The Odisha government has ordered a special audit into the purchase and customization of 51 all-terrain vehicles costing Rs 12.35 crore.
The vehicles were bought for Rs 7.1 crore, with an additional Rs 5.25 crore spent on customization.
The audit will focus on the entire procurement and customization process to identify any unnecessary expenditures.
The minister has directed the audit to be treated as 'most urgent' and conducted immediately.
The vehicles are used for forest fire extinguishing, wildlife protection, and anti-smuggling operations.
- Who
- Odisha government, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia
- What
- Special audit ordered on the purchase and customization of 51 all-terrain vehicles
- When
- The order was issued recently, with the urgent directive on December 18
- Where
- Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Why
- Alleged irregularities in the procurement and customization process
- Total Cost
- Rs 12.35 crore
- Number of Vehicles
- 51
- Purchase Cost
- Rs 7.1 crore
- Customization Cost
- Rs 5.25 crore
- Minister Involved
- Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia
- Department Involved
- Forest, Environment, and Climate Change
- Audit Team
- Special Audit Team of the Accounts General (A&E), Odisha
- Date of Urgent Order
- December 18
