New Delhi: Several state governments have begun reducing the size of chief ministers’ convoys and official vehicle fleets after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for austerity measures to save fuel amid rising global energy concerns linked to the West Asia conflict.
According to reports, the first major response came from Yogi Adityanath, who ordered an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the official vehicle fleets used by himself, ministers and senior bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh. The state government also encouraged work-from-home arrangements, greater use of public transport and virtual meetings as part of a wider fuel conservation drive.
The developments follow PM Modi’s own decision to ask the Special Protection Group (SPG) to reduce the size of his convoy by at least half while maintaining essential security protocols. Officials cited by media reports said the Prime Minister had also pushed for increased use of electric vehicles in his official fleet.
Union home minister Amit Shah too reportedly reduced the number of vehicles accompanying his convoy in Delhi after the Prime Minister’s call for restraint.
The austerity push comes after Modi, during a BJP rally in Hyderabad on May 10, urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, use metro services and carpooling, shift to electric vehicles, postpone foreign travel and avoid unnecessary gold purchases for up to a year. The appeal was framed as a response to economic pressures caused by the ongoing US-Iran conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil transit route.
Several other states, including Maharashtra and Delhi, have also started considering or implementing measures such as virtual meetings, reduced use of official vehicles and greater reliance on public transport. Maharashtra directed ministers to avoid unnecessary flights and switch to virtual meetings. Ministers Kapil Mishra and Ramdas Athawale were seen taking the metro to office on Wednesday, while Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar cancelled his visit to France for the Cannes Film Festival, reported India Today.
A BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh recently drew criticism after videos of a large celebratory convoy went viral shortly after Modi’s remarks. Saubhagya Singh Thakur, appointed as chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation, arrived in Bhopal from Ujjain on Monday with his supporters to take charge of the post. Videos of his convoy, consisting of dozens of vehicles, went viral and drew critcism.
