Chandigarh, Sep 17 - While Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and deputy Sukhbhir Singh move in a fleet of bullet-proof Mitsubishi Monteros and Pajeros costing millions, the state government Thursday decided to lower the vehicle category of its bureaucrats as part of its austerity drive.

At a meeting of top officials chaired by Chief Secretary S.C. Aggarwal here Thursday, the government decided to lower the vehicle category entitlement for officers, including the chief secretary, principal secretaries, financial commissioners and heads of departments, in view of the financial crunch in the state.

Under the new rules, the chief secretary, earlier entitled to a Toyota Camry costing over Rs.20 lakh would now be given a Toyota Corolla car (cost Rs.10 lakh).

Principal secretaries and financial commissioners in the rank of chief secretary, who were earlier entitled to Toyota Corollas, can continue to use their cars.

Other officials, including principal secretaries and financial commissioners not in the rank of chief secretary, and administrative secretaries would be entitled to either Honda City or Maruti SX-4 (cost Rs.