Tracking helps government bring down cost of running vehicles

The tracking system has enabled the ministry to control its expenditure and also stop fake work missions as was the case with some employees, who were using government vehicles unnecessarily

MUSCAT: Public employees are now thinking twice before misusing a government vehicle, even on an official assignment, after a tracking system was installed in government vehicles by a number of public authorities.

A top official at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities revealed that the ministry has started tracking the ministry’s vehicles in an attempt to control expenditure.

“The tracking system sends an immediate report to the ministry once the government vehicles start moving. Almost all the ministry’s vehicles are tracked now,” said Yahya Al Wahaibi, director general of Administration Affairs at the ministry.

He added that the tracking system send reports on when the ve- hicle moves or stops, its tracking details and any traffic law violations made by the driver.

“Even overspeeding and reckless driving are monitored through the tracking system,” said Al Wahaibi. Such behaviour costs the government lots of money in maintenance and spare parts purchase.

“Now the ministry is paying less cash for fuel and maintenance. Imposing the tracking system has enabled the ministry to control its ex- penditure and also stop fake work missions as was the case with some employees, who were using government vehicles unnecessarily. Now everyone is trying to avoid using any government vehicles (wrongly), knowing fully well that they are being tracked and have to explain their tracking details once found misusing the vehicle.”

The process of imposing the new system was gradual, according to Al Wahaibi.

“The ministry started with a number of vehicles and then imposed the system in almost all of the ministry’s vehicles. However, the issue now is how to allocate staff to monitor the tracking system reports. There are almost 700 vehicles under the ministry and a considerable number will have to be assigned to monitor the system and respond accordingly.”

Similarly, the Muscat Municipality had also started tracking its vehicles, especially trucks assigned to transfer waste.

“Knowing which route was taken by the driver enabled us to pay less for the maintenance work for municipality vehicles. Some drivers tend to take shortcuts, not bearing in mind if the road is paved or not, which costs the municipality money later for repair and maintenance of its vehicles,” said a reliable source at the Muscat Municipality.

The Ministry of Finance also issued a circular in July in this regard after noticing a jump in the expenses incurred by government vehicles recently. All public authorities and institutions in Oman will have to install a tracking system in government vehicles, according to the circular.

Following the slump in oil prices, the Ministry of Finance stated that the decision has been taken to cushion the economy, especially as the public expense report until last May showed an increase in the expenses of government vehicles, which was reflected in the expenses for fuel consumption, maintenance and spare parts.

Registration of government vehicles was up by a significant 52.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The tracking system sends an immediate report to the ministry once the government vehicles start moving. Almost all the ministry’s vehicles are tracked now,” said Yahya Al Wahaibi, director general of Administration Affairs at Ministry of Regional Municipalities