The Gujarat government has observed a decrease in pilot vehicle requests to the Home Department in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for fuel conservation and reduced official travel. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi mentioned that this reduction in pilot vehicle deployments has led to significant fuel and manpower savings as the state administration cracks down on unnecessary movement. Sanghavi reported a total reduction of 126 calls over two days, potentially saving around 5,000 kilometers of petrol and diesel consumption.
Sanghavi highlighted that the decrease in pilot vehicle assignments allows personnel to be reassigned to other tasks, emphasizing the efficiency gains from this change. The state government’s actions align with PM Modi’s recent plea for citizens to cut down on fuel usage, embrace mass transit, practice carpooling, and shift meetings online where feasible. Various adjustments have been implemented in Gujarat’s administrative operations post the Prime Minister’s appeal, including minimizing convoy sizes, discouraging external participants in meetings, and promoting virtual gatherings.
The government has encouraged carpooling among officials traveling between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, while also enhancing public transport options in urban areas. Similar austerity measures have been adopted nationwide, with leaders like PM Modi reducing convoy sizes and BJP-ruled state ministers opting for Electric Vehicles and public transport over private vehicles.
