Government of West Bengal
Transport Department
Paribahan Bhawan
12, R.N. Mukherjee Road
Kolkata-700001
e-mail: transportdeptt.wb@gmail.com
No. 1022-WT/TPT-18011/10/2021 Dated: The 23rd March, 2026
From: Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS
Secretary to the Government of West Bengal,
Transport Department.
To: The Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal
21, N S Road, Kolkata- 700001.
Sub: Rate of hiring charges of vehicles/ vessels/ launches etc., consumption of fuel, tiffin/ meal charges (khoraki) in connection with the General Elections to the WBLA, 2026.
Sir,
In supersession of all earlier orders in this regard, it is hereby informed that the rates of hiring charges of vehicles/ vessels/ launches to be hired/ requisitioned during the General Election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, 2026 along with the rate of consumption of fuel, tiffin/ meal (khoraki) charges shall be as follows:-
| Sl. No. | Vehicle Category | Rate of hiring of vehicles per day, engaged for election purposes (in Rs.) | Tiffin allowance / meal charges (Khoraki) rate for drivers/ khalasis etc. of vehicles, per head per day (in Rs.) | Maximum number of crew members allowed per vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bus (excluding fuel) | 2,780/- | 280/- | 1+3=4 |
| 2 | Minibus (excluding fuel) | 2,300/- | 280/- | 1+2=3 |
| 3 | Small Passenger Vehicle (having seating capacity upto 7 persons, including driver) (excluding fuel) | 980/- | 280/- | 1 |
| 4 | Maxi Cab (having seating capacity 8 to 13 persons including driver) (excluding fuel) | 1,440/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 5 | Maxi Cab (having seating capacity 14 to 22 persons including driver) (excluding fuel) | 7 1,720/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 6 | Goods Vehicle GVW upto 2 M.T. (excluding fuel) | 980/- | 280/- | 1 |
| 7 | Goods Vehicle GVW upto 3.5 M.T. (excluding fuel) | 1,440/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 8 | Goods Vehicle GVW upto 6 M.T. (excluding fuel) | 1,580/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 9 | Goods Vehicle GVW upto 8 M.T. (excluding fuel) | 1,880/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 10 | Goods Vehicle GVW beyond 8 M.T upto 16.5 M.T. (excluding fuel) | 2,240/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 11 | Goods Vehicle GVW beyond 16.5 M.T. (excluding fuel) | 3,150/= | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 12 | Tractor/ Breakdown Van (excluding fuel) | 1,450/- | 280/- | 1+1=2 |
| 13 | Auto Rickshaw (excluding fuel) | 550/- | 280/- | 1 |
| 14 | 3 Wheeler e-rickshaw/ e- Auto Rickshaw including fuel/ charging lees) | 850/- | 280/- | 1 |
Launch/ Vessel
| Sl. No. | Vehicle Category | Rate of hiring of vehicles per day, engaged for election purposes (in Rs.) | Tiffin allowance / meal charges (Khoraki) rate for drivers/ khalasis etc. of vehicles, per head per day (in Rs.) | Maximum number of crew members allowed per vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Launch/Vessel (having capacity of passenger upto 50) (excluding fuel) | 3,100/- | 280/- | 1+3=4 |
| 16 | Launch/Vessel (having capacity of passenger 51 to 75 ) (excluding fuel) | 3,550/- | 280/- | 1+4=5 |
| 17 | Launch/Vessel (having capacity of passenger above 75) (excluding fuel) | 3,990/= | 280/- | 1+4=5 |
Vehicles for Election Observers
| Sl. No. | Vehicle Category | Rate of hiring of vehicles per day, engaged for election purposes (in Rs.) | Tiffin allowance / meal charges (Khoraki) rate for drivers/ khalasis etc. of vehicles, per head per day (in Rs.) | Maximum number of crew members allowed per vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Motorcar, Air conditioned having seating capacity upto 7 persons including driver) (excluding fuel) | 1,350/- | 280/- | 1 |
| 19 | Omnibus, Air conditioned having seating capacity between 8 to 13 persons including driver) (excluding fuel) | 1,690/- | 280/- | 1 |
This is further to state that at the time of settlement of the bills for hired vehicles etc. following aspects shall be taken into consideration
A. In case of Launches/ Vessels:-
a) The rates are applicable for every 24 hours engagement.
b) Half the charges shall be payable for engagement upto 12 hours out of 24 hours.
c) Lubricant oil consumption will be at the rate of 2.5 ltr./100 hours.
d) Tiffin allowances/meal charges (khoraki) shall be paid to the crew members at the rate of Rs. 280.00 per person per day in addition to the hiring charges of the vessels.
e) Rate of consumption of fuel shall be as follows:-
| Sl. No. | Category of Vehicles | Fuel Consumption | Lubricant (Mobil) Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Launch/vessel (having capacity of passenger up to 50) | 8 liters per hour | 2.5 liters per 100 hrs. |
| 2. | Launch/vessel (having capacity of passenger from 51 to 75) | 9 liters per hour | 2.5 liters per 100 hrs. |
| 3. | Launch/vessel (having capacity of passenger above 75) | 10 liters per hour | 2.5 liters per 100 hrs. |
B. In case of vehicles:-
a) Full charges shall be allowed for a calendar day for duties/ hiring for 8 hours or more. Half day charges shall be allowed to a vehicle for more than 4 hours but less than 8 hours of duty/hiring in a calendar day.
b) Fuel cost for the distance between garage and reporting place and back to garage shall be paid in addition to the compensation.
c) When a vehicle is requisitioned and kept unused as a reserve vehicle, but released during the course of the day, compensation charge should be paid at the rate mentioned at (a) and (b) above.
d) Consumption of fuel rate in respect of different categories of vehicles shall be guided as per the table appended below.
e) 1 ltr. of lubricant oil shall be issued for every 500 kms. run from the place of reporting for each category of vehicle.
f) Advance payment of hiring charges may be allowed at the rate of 50% of the assumed total for maximum three (03) days for poll vehicles and fifteen (15) days for cell/ office use vehicle. The balance payment may be made within a period of 15 days from the date of release or submission of bill whichever is later. A timetable may be drawn up by the respective District Election Officer in advance regarding payment of balance compensation/charges.
g) Tiffin allowance/meal charges (khoraki) shall be paid to the drivers / khalasis of the requisitioned vehicles by the respective District Election Officer at the rate Rs. 280 per person per day at the time of reporting of the vehicles and should not be deducted from the bill.
h) When a vehicle is requisitioned from Kolkata or other neighboring place (s) and is sent for performing Election Duty to districts/sub-divisions/blocks, the total kilometer run for journey from the place of requisition to the place of reporting should also be considered for calculating hiring and fuel charges. Similarly, the time of journey shall also be considered for calculating detention charges.
i) Vehicle with petrol/CNG fuel may also be hired/ requisitioned, if necessary.
j) Rate of consumption of fuel shall be as follows:-
| Sl No. | Type of vehicle | Fuel consumption rate (kilometre/ ltr) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bus having 6 cylinder engine | 3.5 |
| 2 | Bus having 4 cylinder engine | 4.5 |
| 3 | Mini Bus having 6 cylinder engine | 4.5 |
| 4 | Mini Bus having 4 cylinder engine | 6 |
| 5 | Maxi Cab (having seating capacity 14 to 22 persons including driver) | 8 |
| 6 | Goods vehicle upto 3,000 kg GVW | 8 |
| 7 | Goods vehicle upto 8,000 kg GVW | 6 |
| 8 | Goods vehicle upto 15,000 kg GVW | 5 |
| 9 | Goods vehicle above 15,000 kg GVW | 3.5 |
| 10 | Small passenger vehicle upto 07 seat ID- Non AC | 12 |
| 11 | Small passenger vehicle upto 07 seat ID- AC | 10 |
| 12 | Small passenger vehicle 08 to 13 seat ID- Non AC | 10 |
| 13 | Small passenger vehicle 08 to 13 seat ID- AC | 08 |
| 14 | Auto Rickshaw | 20 |
| 15 | CNG vehicles (upto 7 seats) | 22 km/kg |
| 16 | CNG vehicles (7 to 14 seats) | 20 km/kg |
| 17 | CNG Auto Rickshaw | 25 km/kg |
If a vehicle after obtaining 50% advance, as stated above, fails to perform duty due to mechanical defects or otherwise, the amount so advanced, together with the cost of fuel, if issued, shall be recovered fully before it is de-requisitioned.
This is issued with concurrence of Finance Department vide UO No. Group R/2025-2026/0322 dated 23.03.2026.
Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS
Secretary, Transport Department