Yogi Adityanath, Rekha Gupta, Mohan Yadav and other CMs reduce convoy sizes, fuel use following PM Modi's appeal
New Delhi, May 13
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and several other BJP leaders have announced measures to reduce convoy sizes and fuel consumption following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "seven appeals" for responsible energy use amid the West Asia crisis.
The developments come after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reduced the size of his convoy to less than half as part of efforts to promote efficient use of resources while maintaining mandatory security arrangements.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had also significantly reduced the size of his convoy during recent visits to Gujarat and Assam while retaining all essential Special Protection Group (SPG) security protocols. Sources said the move was implemented immediately after the Prime Minister's speech in Hyderabad, where he urged citizens to adopt sustainable practices and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
Following in the footsteps of the Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the fleet of vehicles used by the Chief Minister, ministers, and other officials. He also suggested that ministers, MPs, MLAs, and public representatives use public transport for one day every week.
The Uttar Pradesh government further announced measures to promote work-from-home culture, virtual meetings, carpooling, cycling and electric vehicles while urging citizens to conserve electricity and support the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also announced that she, her Cabinet colleagues, BJP MLAs, and government officials would use the minimum number of vehicles required for official work and prioritise carpooling and public transport.
In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said there would be a minimum number of vehicles in his convoy from a security perspective and that ministers would also reduce vehicle usage during travel. He additionally appealed to citizens to increasingly adopt public transport.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma directed officials and public representatives to minimise convoy vehicle use and avoid unnecessary vehicles, especially for security-related movement.
In Maharashtra, the state government has mandated that ministers obtain prior approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' office before using government aircraft in an effort to reduce non-essential air travel.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat announced that he would travel within the state using trains, ST buses and public transport instead of helicopters and flights. Gujarat Minister Harsh Sanghavi also cancelled his planned visit to the United States following the Prime Minister's appeal.
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.
Addressing a gathering in Secunderabad earlier this week, Prime Minister Modi had urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by increasingly using public transport, car-pooling and electric vehicles, saying responsible living was also a form of patriotism.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see some practical steps from Indian leaders on fuel conservation. The West Asia crisis is impacting everyone globally, and reducing unnecessary VIP movements is a smart move. However, I wonder how much real impact this will have—most fuel consumption comes from regular citizens and industries, not political convoys. Maybe focus on improving public transport infrastructure first?
Finally, some accountability! 🙌 I've always felt VIP culture in India wastes so much fuel—those massive convoys with dozens of vehicles for a single person. Yogi ji reducing by 50% and suggesting ministers use public transport once a week is commendable. But let's see if this trickles down to lower-level officials too. Also, why not encourage more virtual meetings permanently? That would save even more fuel and time!
As an Indian citizen, I appreciate the symbolism here, but let's be honest—this is a drop in the ocean. Our country's fuel consumption is driven by millions of personal vehicles, not just government convoys. The real change will come when we have affordable, reliable public transport in every city and town. These steps are good PR, but I hope the government also focuses on long-term solutions like expanding metro networks, electric buses, and making cycling safe in our cities.
M Mohan Yadav (not the CM) Nice to see cross-party cooperation on this—CMs from different states all responding to PM Modi's appeal. Especially impressed by Gujarat Governor choosing trains and buses over helicopters! That's real 'aam aadmi' spirit. But I wish they'd also talk about reducing LPG subsidies or promoting solar energy more aggressively. The PM Surya Ghar scheme is a good start, but we need faster adoption. Overall, a positive move—let's hope it inspires citizens too. 😊 We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.