CM announces austerity drive to cut fuel use amid global crisis

Patna: Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for conservation of national resources, Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday announced a wide-ranging austerity and fuel-saving drive aimed at reducing official fuel consumption amid growing fears of a global energy crisis.

In a detailed post on X, Samrat said the state govt would immediately begin reducing vehicle use at multiple levels, ranging from VIP movement to workplace commuting practices. The measures are intended to reduce Bihar’s dependence on petrol and diesel at a time when international crude oil supply remains under pressure.

Leading the campaign from the front, Samrat said the number of vehicles in his official motorcade would be significantly reduced. He said a decision had been taken to minimise the size of the chief minister’s convoy as part of the broader conservation initiative.

He also advised ministers, municipal corporation chairpersons and other public representatives not to bring additional escort vehicles to public programmes. The move is aimed at curbing unnecessary fuel consumption during official events and public appearances.

Samrat further urged govt offices and private companies to encourage a “work-from-home” culture wherever feasible. As part of the initiative, he proposed observing one day every week as a “no vehicle day” to promote lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s appeal, Samrat said Modi had called for reducing the use of petrol and diesel and Bihar had accordingly taken several important decisions, including cutting down the number of vehicles in the chief minister’s convoy.

For the public, the CM appealed for greater use of mass transport systems such as Metro services, local buses and auto-rickshaws instead of private vehicles.

In another cost-cutting measure, Samrat directed canteens operating inside govt offices to minimise the use of palm oil.

The announcement received visible support from NDA allies during the state cabinet meeting held earlier in the day. JD(U) ministers Ashok Choudhary, Madan Sahni and Zama Khan arrived together in a single vehicle at the secretariat, signalling support for the conservation campaign.

Ashok, the state’s food and consumer protection minister and JD(U) national general secretary, said the govt had resolved to take every possible step to reduce fuel consumption and carpooling was one of the practical measures being adopted.

The Bihar govt’s decisions come amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia. With the Iran-US conflict widening and concerns increasing over disruption in global crude oil supply, PM Modi has warned of serious economic consequences. He reportedly advised central agencies and state govts to prepare in advance, cautioning that any prolonged energy disruption could trigger a crisis more severe than the challenges witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.