Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for responsible energy consumption amid the ongoing West Asia crisis has triggered a nationwide response from Union ministers and BJP-ruled states, with several senior leaders reducing convoy sizes, promoting carpooling, and encouraging greater use of public transport and electric vehicles.
Leading from the front, the Prime Minister recently reduced the size of his own convoy during visits to Gujarat and Assam while retaining all essential security arrangements mandated under Special Protection Group (SPG) protocols.
The move followed the Prime Minister’s “seven appeals” made during a public address in Telangana’s Secunderabad, where he urged citizens to reduce dependence on imported fuel and adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
“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,” Modi had said.
Highlighting rising global fuel costs and economic pressures, the Prime Minister urged citizens to increasingly use public transport, carpooling, and electric vehicles to reduce petrol and diesel consumption.
He also appealed to people to cut down edible oil consumption and encouraged farmers to move towards natural farming by reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.
Following the Prime Minister’s appeal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah significantly downsized his convoy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda also cut the number of vehicles in their convoy by almost 50 per cent.
The Prime Minister’s initiative has also seen strong responses from BJP-ruled states.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the fleet of vehicles used by ministers and government officials. He also encouraged ministers, MPs, MLAs, and public representatives to use public transport at least one day every week.
The UP government further announced measures promoting work-from-home culture, virtual meetings, carpooling, cycling, electric vehicles, and electricity conservation.
In a post on X, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, “Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has called upon the citizens of the country to save petrol-diesel and make energy conservation a people’s movement, in view of the current global situation.”
“In internalizing this important appeal of Hon’ble Prime Minister ji, a decision has been taken to limit the number of vehicles for departmental work. I and all my Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, public representatives, officers of the Delhi government, and all departments will also use the minimum number of vehicles as per requirement and prioritize carpooling and public transport,” she further said.
“Energy conservation is a responsibility linked to national interest. The Delhi government is working with full commitment to promote fuel conservation and public transport. I urge all Delhi residents to also join this national effort for energy conservation by following this call of Hon’ble Prime Minister ji,” she concluded.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav also announced that convoy sizes in the state would be kept to the minimum required from a security perspective and appealed to citizens to increasingly adopt public transport.
Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma instructed officials and public representatives in the state to avoid unnecessary convoy vehicles.
In Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis government mandated prior approval for ministers seeking to use government aircraft in an effort to curb non-essential air travel.
Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat announced that he would use trains, state transport buses, and public transport instead of helicopters and flights for travel within the state.
Meanwhile, Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi cancelled his planned visit to the United States following the Prime Minister’s appeal.
In Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said he had reduced the number of vehicles used by him by half and would undertake official travel only when necessary.
(With ANI inputs)
