Prime Minister Modi asked the nation to reduce consumption of petrol and diesel, adopt carpooling and use public transport and electric vehicles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s austerity call has brought about a change in the VIP culture. Political leaders across the country are reducing the size of convoys and cutting fuel use amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran that is now on hold due to a fragile ceasefire.
Ministers and chief ministers have voluntarily started tightening their belts in the wake of the ‘seven calls’ made by the Prime Minister in Secunderabad. With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and turmoil in global oil markets, Modi asked the country grappling with the economic repercussions to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption, adopt a car-sharing system, use public transportation and electric vehicles, and reduce dependence on imported resources.
The Prime Minister also called for work-from-home arrangements, reduced consumption of edible oil, reduced foreign travel, and use of railways for transportation to conserve foreign exchange amid global uncertainty linked to the war in West Asia.
Steps taken by key leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister reduced the size of his convoy during recent visits to Gujarat and Assam while maintaining security protocols imposed by the SPG, news agency ANI reported. He also directed officials to include electric vehicles in his parade wherever possible without new purchases.
Rajnath Singh: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reduced the size of his convoy by almost half after the Prime Minister’s appeal.
Amit Shah: Home Minister Amit Shah reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy to less than half while maintaining mandatory security arrangements, PTI reported.
GB Nadda: Health Minister JP Nadda also reduced the size of his convoy by almost half while maintaining all mandatory security protocols.
Nitin Nabin: “Inspired by this Modi initiative, I am also reducing the number of vehicles in my convoy and taking several other steps towards energy conservation,” BJP national president Nitin Nabin said.
Response of states and constitutional presidents to Modi’s calls
Uttar Pradesh
Yogi Adityanath: Uttar Pradesh Governor Yogi Adityanath has ordered a 50% reduction in vehicles used by the Prime Minister, ministers and officials as part of austerity measures, according to ANI. He also suggested that ministers, MPs and members of Parliament use public transport at least once a week. The Prime Minister encouraged working from home, virtual meetings, cycling, carpooling and the use of electric cars to reduce fuel consumption.
Delhi
CM Rekha Gupta: It directed ministers, local officials and officials to reduce the use of official vehicles and asked public representatives to give priority to the use of cars and public transportation.
Kapil Mishra: Delhi Labor Minister traveled by metro and pledged to use public transport or one official vehicle wherever possible, ANI reported.
Ashish Sood: Education Minister Ashish Sood also used the metro services during an inspection visit as part of efforts to promote fuel conservation and austerity measures.
Madhya Pradesh
Mohan Yadav: Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav announced that convoys will be kept at the minimum required size for security purposes and asked ministers to reduce use of vehicles during official travel. He also encouraged increased use of public transport as part of fuel-saving and austerity measures.
Rajasthan
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma: The Rajasthan Chief Minister ordered that convoy vehicles be kept to a minimum, news agency ANI reported. He also directed officials to avoid unnecessary vehicles during security movements as part of austerity measures and rationalization of fuel consumption.
Maharashtra
CM Devendra Fadnavis: “We have decided to reduce the size of the motorcade of the Chief Minister and other ministers in response to the Prime Minister’s appeal,” Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said.
“There will also be restrictions on foreign trips by ministers and government officials. We are taking steps to reduce the use of foreign exchange and promote Indian goods. It is the duty of every Indian to respond positively to the Prime Minister’s call, at least for the next six months,” he said.
Gujarat
Acharya Devrat: The governor decided to use trains, buses and public transportation instead of helicopters and flights to travel within the state.
Harsh Sanghvi: DY CM of Gujarat has canceled a planned visit to the US after the Prime Minister’s plea, according to reports. He also praised people for not buying gold.
Bihar
Samrat Chaudhary: Bihar Affairs Minister Samrat Chaudhary ordered reducing the number of vehicles in the Prime Minister’s convoy and suggested a weekly ‘vehicle-free day’ as part of austerity measures.
He also directed departments to hold meetings virtually and encourage working from home to reduce fuel consumption.
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary: The Bihar Deputy Chief Minister reduced the number of official convoy vehicles by half and said official travel would only take place when necessary, news agency IANS reported.
Chhattisgarh
Sam Vishnu Deo Sai: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has reduced the size of his motorcade and announced a gradual transition of government vehicles to electric vehicles.
He also asked ministers and officials to use vehicles and other government resources wisely as part of austerity and fuel saving measures.
OP Chowdhury: Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Chaudhary said the experimental and satellite vehicles would be avoided except when security requirements make them necessary, as part of the state government’s austerity and fuel conservation measures.
Himachal Pradesh
Kavinder Gupta: Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta declared Lok Bhavan a “fuel conservation zone”, declared “petrol-free Sundays” for official work, and ordered the size of official convoys to be reduced by half.
He also decided not to use government helicopters until the war on Iran ends and fuel prices stabilize, according to the Iranian News Agency. The governor also directed universities to promote public transportation, cycling and car use, while encouraging virtual meetings and reducing vehicle use as part of fuel conservation measures.
Anita Goswami is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she primarily covers Indian and international news. With four years of experience in the field, she has led coverage of Indian general elections, Assembly elections, and national polls in the US, Canada, Bangladesh and Nepal. Its reports cover world wars and major events, including Operation Sindoor, the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, and the Mahakumbh Mela. It verifies the facts and uses clear sources to ensure the accuracy of the reports. As a former Editor-in-Chief at Storytailors, she has managed teams to produce high-quality content for networks such as NDTV, Profit, CNBC-TV18, Upstox and News18. Her work has appeared on NDTV, Meaww and Global Pulse. Throughout her tenure, Anita has collaborated with and received mentoring from leading industry experts. When she’s not reading, Anita can be found outside or at a bakery. Areas of interest: Indian political history, international elections, historical policy analysis, global conflicts, cultural events, Formula 1, art, media ethics, reporting on social and political change over time.Read more
