Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to save fuel and avoid unnecessary spending has triggered a wave of austerity measures across several Indian states, with governments cutting official vehicle use, shrinking VIP convoys, promoting work-from-home, and pushing officials and citizens towards public transport. States including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh announced a mix of restrictions and advisories after Modi urged people to conserve resources amid global uncertainty linked to rising fuel prices and international tensions.
Also Read: Work From Home Advisory: From UP, Delhi to Maharashtra, check all announcements by states
The push has also brought back several practices that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic, including online meetings, video conferences and remote working arrangements.
PM Modi Work from Home Appeal
Speaking at an event in Telangana, Modi said India had already developed systems during the pandemic that reduced unnecessary travel and fuel use. "During the Corona period, we adopted work from home, online meetings, video conferences and developed many such systems. We had also become accustomed to them," he said.
"Today, the need of the hour is that we restart those practices, as it would be in the national interest, and we must once again give them priority," he added. The Prime Minister also appealed to citizens to avoid non-essential foreign travel and gold purchases for a year and focus more on locally made goods.
UP Work From Home Advisory:
In Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a 50 per cent reduction in convoy vehicles and directed officials to remove unnecessary cars from official movement. He also suggested that ministers, MPs, MLAs and public representatives use public transport at least once every week and observe a weekly “No Vehicle Day”.
The state government asked departments to conduct half of their internal meetings virtually. Industries and start-ups were also encouraged to allow employees to work from home for at least two days a week wherever possible.
Schools and colleges were advised to promote the use of buses, while officials were directed to encourage cycling, stagger office timings, carpooling and electric vehicle use. Adityanath also appealed to people to conserve electricity, avoid decorative lighting after 10 pm, reduce edible oil consumption and limit unnecessary foreign travel for six months.
Maharashtra shifts meetings online
In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly directed that ministers cannot use aircraft for official travel without his approval unless the situation is extremely urgent.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said many departmental meetings were already being conducted online.
Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane also instructed officials in his department to move towards virtual meetings and prioritise electric vehicles over petrol and diesel vehicles.
Delhi asks ministers to use Metro and buses
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said ministers, MLAs and government departments in Delhi would reduce official vehicle use and prioritise carpooling.
She also encouraged the use of Metro and bus services wherever possible and urged residents to reduce dependence on private vehicles during the ongoing global energy uncertainty linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Gujarat
In Gujarat, Governor Acharya Devvrat decided to avoid air travel for events within the state following Modi’s appeal. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi reduced the size of their official convoys, while some ministers chose to give up escort vehicles completely.
Universities across the state were directed to observe at least one day as “Chemical Engine Free Day”, encouraging students and faculty members to use bicycles, electric vehicles and public transport instead of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Officials and employees were also instructed to avoid unnecessary official travel.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma reduced his convoy to five vehicles and instructed officials not to use unnecessary cars in official movements.
In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav cut the number of vehicles in his convoy from 13 to 8.
The state government also instructed that no vehicle rallies should be organised during his tours. Ministers and dignitaries were advised to use the minimum possible number of vehicles and prefer public transport wherever practical.
