14 May,2026 08:43 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Pic/PTI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reduced the size of his official convoy to less than half following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for fuel conservation in view of the ongoing crisis in West Asia and rising concerns over global energy stability.
Several ministers and senior political leaders across the country have also started taking measures to reduce fuel consumption by downsizing official vehicle fleets and encouraging the use of public transport and virtual meetings.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to immediately reduce the number of vehicles in his convoy by 50 per cent during district visits and public tours.
The decision was taken during a review meeting attended by the state's Director General of Police and senior Intelligence officials. Naidu also instructed ministers, public representatives and government officials to minimise the use of official vehicles wherever possible.
According to officials, the Andhra Pradesh government believes such measures are necessary at a time when governments are facing financial pressures and fuel conservation has become increasingly important due to global uncertainties.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also announced restrictions on the use of vehicles in his official convoy, stating that only essential security vehicles would remain part of his cavalcade until further orders.
Saini said he would also work without official vehicles one day every week as part of the fuel-saving initiative. He instructed ministers and government departments in the state to reduce unnecessary travel and rely more on virtual meetings and digital communication.
The Haryana Chief Minister also appealed to MLAs and citizens to use public transport wherever possible and support efforts aimed at reducing fuel consumption.
Earlier, while addressing a public gathering in Secunderabad, Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to adopt measures that could help reduce India's dependence on imports and lower fuel consumption.
The Prime Minister encouraged people to work from home wherever feasible, avoid unnecessary foreign travel for a year, and use public transport such as metro rail services instead of private vehicles. He also suggested car-pooling and greater use of electric vehicles to reduce petrol and diesel consumption.
PM Modi also spoke about the need to lower India's dependence on imported edible oils and chemical fertilisers. He urged households to reduce cooking oil consumption and encouraged farmers to move towards natural farming practices.
The Prime Minister said India spends a large amount of foreign exchange on fertiliser imports and emphasised that reducing chemical fertiliser usage would not only help save money but also benefit the environment.
He further called for increased use of railways for transporting goods as part of broader efforts to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pressure on imported energy resources.
(With inputs from Agencies)
