Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary announces smaller convoy and weekly no vehicle day
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced a series of austerity and fuel-conservation measures, including reducing the number of vehicles in his official cavalcade and promoting a weekly “no vehicle day” across the state.
The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal to reduce petrol and diesel consumption amid concerns over the ongoing conflict in West Asia and its possible impact on global fuel supplies.
Sharing the decisions on social media, Choudhary said the Bihar government has proposed several measures aimed at cutting fuel usage and encouraging sustainable practices.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for reducing the use of petrol and diesel. Accordingly, several important decisions have been taken. These include minimising the number of vehicles in the Chief Minister’s cavalcade,” he said.
Choudhary, who became the first BJP leader to head the Bihar government last month, also appealed to ministers, municipal corporation chairpersons and other public representatives to avoid using extra escort vehicles during public events.
The Chief Minister urged citizens to increase the use of public transport systems such as buses, metro services and auto-rickshaws in an effort to conserve fuel.
To reduce unnecessary travel, all government departments in the state have been directed to hold meetings through video conferencing wherever possible. Offices have also been advised to encourage work-from-home arrangements.
In another step, Choudhary appealed to people to voluntarily observe a “no vehicle day” once every week as part of the fuel-saving campaign.
He also said that government office canteens have been instructed to minimise the use of palm oil.
Prime Minister Modi had recently called for austerity measures and warned that the ongoing military tensions in West Asia could trigger a crisis “bigger than the global COVID pandemic.”
