Ahmedabad Civic Body Cuts Fuel Use with Carpooling Directives

In a circular issued on Thursday, the Municipal Commissioner instructed all head officers and staff working in the same or nearby municipal office premises to coordinate carpooling for daily commuting where employees reside in close proximity.

The directive also requires officers engaged in field duties to adopt shared travel arrangements, including carpooling or two-wheeler sharing with colleagues.

Employees commuting on two-wheelers have similarly been asked to arrange shared rides with colleagues living nearby, with the administration stating that the measures are intended to ensure "minimum use of national resources like petrol and diesel".

The civic body noted that 1,350 buses under the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) and the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) are currently operational.

It further stated that 1,405 additional buses are expected to be inducted in the coming period, and urged citizens to make greater use of public transport, including AMTS, BRTS and the Metro system.

Separately, Gandhinagar Mayor Miraben Patel undertook a metro journey from Raysan Metro Station near her residence to Old Secretariat Station to reach her office.

During the commute, she interacted with passengers and encouraged the use of public transport, describing it as "a practical and environmentally responsible mode of travel".

"Modern cities require efficient and well-organised transport systems alongside infrastructure development, adding that metro services help reduce congestion, save time and lower air pollution," she said.

She also referred to appeals by Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraging citizens to adopt public transport, reduce fuel consumption and consider shared mobility to support energy conservation and environmental sustainability.

In recent public remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to limit unnecessary fuel use, increase reliance on public transport, and adopt practices such as carpooling to ease pressure on energy resources and reduce urban congestion.

He has also emphasised broader lifestyle adjustments to improve efficiency in transport usage and support environmental objectives at a national level.

- IANS