Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for austerity and reduced fuel consumption amid the ongoing West Asia crisis is now reflecting across the BJP-led governments, with several Union ministers and chief ministers downsizing their convoys, cutting discretionary travel and pushing for greater use of electric vehicles and public transport.
After the Prime Minister reduced his own convoy size during recent visits to Gujarat and Assam, Union ministers including Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Rajnath Singh followed suit, reducing the number of vehicles in their official cavalcades while retaining mandatory security arrangements.
Also Read: PM Modi calls for pandemic-era austerity drive
ANI visuals on Wednesday showed Amit Shah travelling with a visibly smaller convoy while leaving his Delhi residence for a Cabinet meeting. Officials said the Union Home Minister’s convoy was reduced by more than 50 per cent without compromising existing SOPs under his Z+ security cover.
#WATCH | Delhi: Following Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi's appeal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also downsized his convoy, reducing it to less than half.
Visuals of Union HM leaving his residence. pic.twitter.com/yQQgYGOIlu
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2026
JP Nadda too reduced the size of his convoy to nearly half, ANI reported quoting sources, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also downsized his convoy following the Prime Minister’s appeal.
The move comes days after Modi, addressing a rally in Hyderabad, urged citizens and public representatives to adopt “responsible living” and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
“Patriotism is not only about the willingness to sacrifice one’s life on the border. In these times, it is about living responsibly and fulfilling our duties to the nation in our daily lives,” the Prime Minister had said.
He called for reduced petrol and diesel consumption through public transport, metro rail, carpooling, work-from-home practices and increased use of EVs. Modi also directed officials to include electric vehicles in his own convoy wherever feasible without making fresh purchases.
The message appears to have triggered a wider administrative shift across BJP-ruled states.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi asks SPG to halve convoy size amid austerity push: Report
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an immediate 50 per cent reduction in vehicles used by ministers and officials. He also suggested that ministers, MPs and MLAs use public transport at least once a week.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said ministers, BJP MLAs and officials would use the minimum number of vehicles required and prioritise carpooling and public transport.
माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी ने वर्तमान वैश्विक परिस्थितियों के मद्देनज़र देशवासियों से पेट्रोल-डीजल की बचत करने तथा ऊर्जा संरक्षण को जन आंदोलन बनाने का आह्वान किया है।
माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी की इस महत्वपूर्ण अपील को आत्मसात करते हुए विभागीय कामकाज हेतु वाहनों की…
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) May 12, 2026
West Bengal Chief Minister
Suvendu Adhikari has also decided to reduce the number of vehicles in his convoy. According to ET Bureau sources, only the required number of vehicles needed for security purposes will now be allowed in the convoy. Unnecessary vehicles will no longer be included.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said his convoy had already been reduced and that the state would gradually shift government vehicles to EVs in a phased manner.
“We have reduced the number of vehicles in our official cavalcade. In the coming days, special focus will be given to EVs,” Sai told reporters in Raipur, while urging citizens to embrace public transport and carpooling.
#WATCH | Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai said, "Following the Prime Minister's appeal, we have also reduced our convoy. In the coming times, we will focus on EV cars." pic.twitter.com/jiASJGmCNH
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2026
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also announced that only a minimum number of vehicles would be used in his convoy, while Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma instructed officials to avoid unnecessary convoy vehicles. On Wednesday, Sharma was seen travelling in a five-car convoy.
In Maharashtra, the government led by Devendra Fadnavis has mandated prior approval for ministers seeking to use government aircraft in a bid to curb non-essential travel.
Elsewhere, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat announced he would travel across the state using trains and public transport instead of helicopters and flights, while Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi cancelled a planned US visit following the Prime Minister’s appeal.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also said he had cut the number of vehicles used by him by half and would undertake official travel only when necessary.
Officials said the steps are aimed at promoting fuel conservation and projecting restraint in public life amid global energy uncertainties linked to the conflict in West Asia.
