PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has significantly reduced his convoy size, days after he made an appeal for austerity and urged the citizens to curb the use of fuel-driven vehicles. The move has prompted several BJP Chief Ministers to similarly adopt measures and cut their respective vehicle fleets. A downsizing in the Prime Minister’s convoy was implemented in his recent domestic visits, official sources said. It was done while maintaining essential security components as per the SPG protocol. Modi’s convoy size was cut in Gujarat and Assam, immediately after his speech in Hyderabad -- during which he suggested an array of austerity measures. Sources said, the Prime Minister also asked for electric vehicles to be included in his convoy, wherever possible, without making new purchases. Taking a cue, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the fleet of vehicles accompanying the Chief Minister and Ministers, and urged people to cut fuel consumption and avoid unnecessary gold purchases in view of the prevailing global situation. Chairing a meeting of the Chief Secretary, DGP, Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of all departments, Adityanath appealed to people to adopt the Prime Minister’s call for austerity measures in a practical manner across the State.

 

In A move towards administrative austerity, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday entered ‘action mode’, ordering the immediate cancellation of previously approved foreign tours for State Ministers and high-ranking civil servants. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced that he will use a minimum number of vehicles for his convoy and asked his ministerial colleagues to do the same. He also urged people for increased use of public transport. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said he has reduced the size of his convoy and that there will be special focus on the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in future. Sai also urged his Cabinet colleagues and office-bearers of various State-run corporations and boards to ensure restrained use of vehicles and other Government resources. The Maharashtra Government has directed all Ministers to obtain prior approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before using aircraft for official travel. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has also announced limits on official vehicles used by Ministers, MLAs and other public representatives. She further urged Delhi residents to adopt carpooling and make greater use of buses and metro services instead of private vehicles in view of the prevailing global energy supply uncertainty.

 

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday took a major decision to reduce by half the number of vehicles used in his personal security convoy also urged people to minimise the use of private vehicles and use public transport for travelling as part of the fuel conservation drive. The Odisha Chief Minister also appealed to the people to refrain from purchasing gold and avoid non-essential foreign trips. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma similarly directed that his convoy use be minimised and unnecessary vehicles should not be used, especially for security purposes. He also instructed all officials and public representatives, including the Chief Secretary, to adopt similar practices. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi also cancelled his planned trip to the United States, after the Prime Minister’s appeal for reducing foreign travel. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday announced a series of austerity and fuel-conservation measures, including reducing the number of vehicles in his official cavalcade, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to curb the use of petrol and diesel. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, the State Government would unveil precautionary measures within two days to mitigate the impact of the West Asia conflict on the state.