Bihar CM cuts convoy size, plans weekly No Vehicle Day

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for curbing fuel consumption, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday ordered a slash in size of his cavalcade, prompting Cabinet colleagues to follow suit.

Choudhary also said that his Government is planning several steps to reduce the use of fuel, including promoting work-from-home and observing a “no vehicle day” once a week.

In a post on his social media handle, a couple of days after Modi had called for austerity measures, likening the West Asia crisis to the global COVID pandemic, Choudhary announced that he was minimising the number of vehicles in his own fleet and expected ministers and other public representatives to do the same.

The gesture by Choudhary, who became the first BJP leader to head a Government in Bihar last month, received a thumbs up from NDA partners in his Cabinet.

At the meeting of Cabinet held in the forenoon, JD(U) ministers Ashok Choudhary, Madan Sahni and Zama Khan were seen huddled in the same car to reach secretariat.

“Yes, we have decided to take all possible measures to reduce fuel consumption. Car pooling is one of these”, said Khan, who holds the minority affairs portfolio.

Likewise, Sanjay Kumar Singh, the minister for public health and engineering department, who belongs to the LJP(RV), took along cabinet colleagues Sanjay Paswan and Lakhendra Paswan in his vehicle, to a function in Mahua, his Assembly constituency in Vaishali district, situated about 40 kms away from the State Capital.

Talking to reporters before their departure, the ministers said they are glad to do their bit in conserving energy resources and forex reserves.

Bihar stands firmly behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal, made in the national interest, they said.

Besides curtailed use of vehicles by dignitaries, Choudhary said his Government was proposing several steps aimed at reducing fuel consumption, including promotion of work-from-home practices and observing a “no vehicle day” once a week.

“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 also appealed to ministers, municipal corporation chairpersons and other public representatives to avoid using additional escort vehicles while attending public programmes.

The chief minister urged people to make greater use of public transport such as buses, metro services and auto-rickshaws.

To minimise travel requirements, all State departments have been directed to hold meetings through video conferencing, while offices have been advised to encourage work-from-home arrangements wherever possible, he said.

Choudhary also appealed to people to voluntarily observe a “no vehicle day” once every week.

In another measure, the CM said directions have been issued to minimise the use of palm oil in canteens at Government offices.