Chandigarh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for fuel conservation has begun reflecting in administrative practices, with Nayab Singh Saini significantly reducing the size of his official convoy in a symbolic austerity measure.

Official sources said the Haryana chief minister’s motorcade, which earlier comprised seven to ten vehicles, has now been trimmed to just four, including his official vehicle and a jammer vehicle. The reduced convoy was seen on Thursday when Saini arrived at the BJP state headquarters in Panchkula to attend a party event.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the programme, Saini said the prime minister’s appeal should be taken seriously by all sections of society, adding that citizens should increasingly rely on public transport wherever possible.

Responding to a question on whether opposition parties should also follow the appeal, Saini said that when the prime minister makes a call in the national interest, it is incumbent upon everyone to respond positively.

The austerity push appeared to resonate with other members of the state cabinet as well. Cabinet minister Arvind Sharma arrived at the event on a bicycle, underscoring the administration’s effort to promote fuel-saving practices.

The event in Panchkula was attended by senior BJP leaders, newly elected mayors and party workers following the party’s recent victories in civic body elections across Panchkula, Ambala and Sonipat.

A day earlier, Saini had announced a broader set of measures aligned with the prime minister’s conservation campaign. These include restricting the use of government vehicles, encouraging virtual meetings among officials, and minimising resource consumption in official functioning.

In a post on X, the chief minister said the Haryana government was moving forward with a commitment to conserve fuel and ensure efficient use of public resources in the national interest. He also announced that only essential security vehicles would remain part of his motorcade until further orders.

Saini further declared that he would spend one day every week without using official vehicles, and appealed to citizens to participate in the larger campaign for fuel conservation.

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The move comes after Prime Minister Modi himself reportedly reduced the size of his convoy, prompting several BJP-ruled states to adopt similar austerity measures.