NEW DELHI: Parliament has begun replacing official petrol-powered vehicles of top House officials with electric vehicles (EVs) as part of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s initiative following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve fuel amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, officials familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
At least 40 officers, of the rank of joint secretary and above, are expected to receive the electric vehicles in the current phase, officials said.
“For the last two years, a Joint Secretary in Parliament has used his Ciaz to commute to office. Last week, the Lok Sabha Secretariat changed his car to a Mahindra
“All senior officials in Parliament who are entitled to cars are being given electric cars to reduce fuel costs. The distribution process has already begun,” the official added.
Two models – Mahindra XUV 400 and Tata Nexon EV – are being distributed depending on the rank and official requirements, people familiar with the information said.
The move comes on the heels of Modi’s May 10 appeal in which he urged people to adopt measures such as reducing fuel consumption, using cars, using public transport, and working from home in view of the ongoing West Asia crisis and rising fuel prices.
More than 80% of India’s fuel needs are met through imports.
Parliament has already introduced several fuel-saving measures in recent years, officials said. Battery-powered golf carts are used to transport MPs and senior officials between the Parliament Building and the Annex Building, where committee meetings are held.
Parliament also maintains shared cars for MPs traveling between their residences and the House of Representatives.
Birla himself reduced his convoy to two vehicles, following similar steps taken earlier by Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The pressure to conserve fuel comes amid rising prices for fuel and cooking gas. State-run oil marketing companies have tripled gasoline prices in the past eight days, while the price of commercial LPG cylinders has risen by $500.
