Bhubaneswar: A day after Chief Minister Mohan Majhi reduced the size of his official convoy by nearly half, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena on Thursday announced he would switch to an EV immediately and limit himself to a single vehicle for official use.
This in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for energy conservation amid growing concerns over global fuel supply disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis.
Jena added that other state ministers would follow suit, and urged citizens to minimise the use of private vehicles and increasingly rely on public transport wherever possible.
The Minister further stated that the state government has been encouraging the EV transition. All buses operated by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) will be gradually converted into electric vehicles (EVs), he said, noting the need for charging stations.
“There are around 10 lakh EV vehicles in the state which include over a lakh four-wheelers. Work on 30 of a proposed 100 EV charging stations statewide has been completed. 15 of these are being set up in Bhubaneswar alone,” he said, adding that the government is actively engaging with charging infrastructure providers.
Odisha is also offering support and incentives to manufacturers shifting towards EV production.
Context Amid Fuel Supply Concerns
The announcement comes against the backdrop of temporary fuel shortages reported earlier in Bhubaneswar and other parts of Odisha, where some petrol pumps displayed “No Stock” boards, sparking fears of a deepening fuel crisis linked to escalating global oil supply tensions.
However, the Utkal Petroleum Dealers Association and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have clarified that there is no overall shortage. Adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available across the state, with supply chains functioning normally after addressing a recent surge in demand, particularly in border districts.
Authorities urged the public not to panic or indulge in hoarding.
