Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi halved the number of vehicles in his official convoy on Wednesday, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for nationwide measures amid rising global oil prices and geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Majhi has slashed the fleet of vehicles used for his personal security to half. He has also advised the people of Odisha to minimise travel by personal cars, make greater use of public transport, and restrict vehicle usage to only essential trips.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier called upon citizens to conserve fuel, avoid unnecessary imports, and reduce foreign exchange spending to ease pressure on the Indian economy. This initiative by the Odisha government aligns with similar austerity measures being adopted by the Prime Minister’s Office and several other states, where Chief Ministers are also taking steps to reduce official vehicle usage, cut down on lavish expenditures, and encourage citizens to adopt fuel-saving habits.
The Prime Minister himself has directed the Special Protection Group (SPG) to reduce the number of vehicles in his convoy by 50 per cent.