Modi, others reduce convoy size as govt amplifies pitch for saving fuel | India News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled in a severely pared-down convoy on Wednesday as many of his ministerial colleagues, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, reduced the size of their motorcades by more than half, cutting the fleet carrying VIPs as the government sent a message that it was willing to practice in line with Modi’s multiple predecessors.Modi’s convoy on the short route from his residence to his office Seva Tirtha, where he presided over a cabinet meeting, had only 2 SUVs, a sharp decline from over a dozen.Shah, who faced the highest level of threat after Modi, followed suit and his convoy was cut by more than half to four vehicles. As the government sought to expand Modi’s appeal to preserve forex reserves, a large portion of which is used to import crude oil.The Prime Minister’s long trips may require a large fleet of vehicles depending on the SPG, the elite security group that assesses the security situation on a case-by-case basis for the Prime Minister, but Modi’s message is that he is downsizing his fleet and everyone should prioritize fuel conservation, officials stressed.Modi’s domestic visits outside Delhi recently saw fewer vehicles than usual, with the SPG acting on his orders to reduce convoys while holding back his remit to maintain necessary security protocols.Rajnath Singh’s cavalry also had only four cars.TOI has learned that the Prime Minister asked ministers to reduce consumption of fuel and vehicles in the Cabinet meeting. Soon after the meeting, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that he would travel by “bus” along with officers, security personnel and others to visit the Palkhi Marg project in Maharashtra on Thursday and Friday. He also requested the Maharashtra government to reduce convoys by 50%.Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishna has also stopped using the pilot car and has been using only one car since Wednesday.As indicated, the chief minister and several governors of BJP-ruled states implemented similar measures. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked his ministers to halve their fleets and urged public representatives to use public transport once a week.As the BJP went into overdrive across the country to follow Modi’s appeal to preserve foreign exchange reserves amid lingering tensions in West Asia, his Bihar counterpart Samrat Chowdhury gave similar instructions and insisted on the use of video conferencing in physical meetings, leading to a rally in crude prices.With the postponement of a foreign trip amid the prime minister’s appeal to citizens, BJP governments in several states have taken steps to cancel foreign visits of lawmakers. In Maharashtra, MLAs’ proposed study tour to Japan is likely to be cancelled.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked ministers to seek prior approval from his office to fly government aircraft to limit non-essential air travel, officials said.Gujarat Governor Acharya Devabrata has announced that he will travel within the state by train and other modes of public transport instead of planes and helicopters. He also reduced the size of his official convoy.Even as Modi’s suggestions take concrete shape on the ground, the government insists that his appeal should not be taken as a call for austerity, suggesting budget cuts, lower subsidies and overall fiscal tightening.The government is not cutting capital spending, welfare spending or subsidies, an official said, stressing that Modi’s appeal was not about spending less. “It’s about spending more wisely by reducing fuel consumption, avoiding dependence on imported goods and foreign-currency-intensive services,” he said.With many countries like India facing an economic slowdown due to volatile oil prices and the negative impact on trade from the Iran conflict, the government is keen to dial back foreign currency outflows, prompting the prime minister to make a number of suggestions.The ruling BJP has also issued directives to its state units for similar measures with party workers using a large fleet of vehicles from the opposition.BJP president Nitin Naveen also reduced his convoy.Leading the way is the government’s think tank Policy Commission He has ordered the immediate cancellation of all planned in-person workshops, conferences and seminars across the department. It has asked its teams to keep the necessary engagement through virtual mode.