The Province 3 ministries are having difficulty running their daily operations due to shortage of vehicles, according to the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Provincial Ministers (OCMCPM).

The office secretary Ramesh Siwakoti complained how the centre has only provided 13 old beat-up cars to run the provincial ministries. “We require at least 69 vehicles for smooth functioning of ministries, but the centre has only sent 13 cars which are at least 30-40 years old,” he said. “Several ministry secretaries have not received office cars yet.” 

The lack of office transports has reportedly affected the performance and productivity of the ministries. Shalikram Dhakal, under secretary at the chief minister’s office, said without enough vehicles at their disposal they have been borrowing cars from various government offices whenever they have pressing jobs to attend to.

He also claimed that many employees have still not reported to their works because of poor office facilities. 

 “Some officer level employees are reluctant to join their new offices because they have learned about the lack of office vehicles and places to stay here in Hetauda,” said Dhakal. 

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Social Development is without a single employee so far. A senior official at the chief minister’s office said out of 207 positions for provincial ministries, only 30 have been filled as of Thursday.