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Govt leads by example after PM Modi’s appeal: Amit Shah slashes convoy size; Delhi Ministers switch to Metro

Statesman News Service

Govt leads by example after PM Modi’s appeal: Amit Shah slashes convoy size; Delhi Ministers switch to Metro. (IANS)


In a visible push towards fuel conservation amid growing global economic uncertainty linked to the West Asia crisis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reduced the size of his official convoy by more than half following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide appeal for responsible fuel consumption. The Centre’s message on energy conservation also began reflecting on the ground in Delhi, where ministers of the BJP government started using the Metro and public transport as part of a coordinated effort to reduce fuel usage.

The move comes days after PM Modi, during a public meeting at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, Telangana, urged citizens to adopt fuel-saving measures in view of rising global tensions and their impact on the economy. Calling for a nationwide behavioural shift, the Prime Minister appealed to people to increasingly use public transport, carpool, avoid unnecessary fuel consumption and reduce dependence on imported energy resources.

Amit Shah reduces convoy size after PM’s call

Sources said the reduction in Amit Shah’s convoy strength was implemented while fully maintaining mandatory security protocols. The step follows Prime Minister Modi’s own decision to significantly reduce the number of vehicles accompanying his convoy during recent visits to Gujarat and Assam, without compromising Special Protection Group (SPG) security norms.

Officials said the Prime Minister’s directive was implemented soon after his appeal, in which he called for collective efforts to protect the economy from external shocks stemming from geopolitical instability and rising crude oil prices. As part of the sustainability push, PM Modi has also instructed officials to include electric vehicles in his convoy wherever feasible, without making fresh purchases.

Delhi Ministers begin using Metro

Responding to the Prime Minister’s appeal, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday travelled by the Delhi Metro and said the government had begun implementing fuel-saving measures at the administrative level.

Sharing a video of his Metro journey on the social media platform X, Mishra wrote that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and all ministers had resolved to reduce fuel consumption by prioritising public transport and limiting the use of government vehicles.

“I will use public transport or, only when necessary, a single government vehicle,” Mishra said while sharing visuals from his Metro commute.

 


The initiative follows a broader announcement by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who said ministers, BJP MLAs, government officials and departments had been instructed to minimise vehicle usage, encourage carpooling and prioritise public transport wherever possible.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to save petrol and diesel and turn energy conservation into a mass movement in view of the current global situation,” Gupta said in a statement posted on X.

She added that the Delhi government had decided to limit the number of vehicles used for official work and encourage sustainable commuting practices across departments.

Ministers adopt public transport in symbolic shift

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood also joined the initiative by travelling from INA to Karkardooma Court via the Delhi Metro before taking an e-rickshaw to CM Shri School in Surajmal Vihar to attend an interaction programme with school heads from Zones 1 and 2.

The Centre’s push for fuel conservation comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in West Asia, which have triggered concerns over global fuel prices, supply disruptions and pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

At the Secunderabad rally, Prime Minister Modi had urged citizens to contribute towards economic resilience by adopting simple measures such as using public transport, opting for work-from-home wherever possible, reducing unnecessary purchases, including gold and avoiding non-essential overseas travel.

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