In a continued push for fiscal discipline, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday further reduced his official motorcade to just four vehicles, with only three escorting his official car. This move is part of broader austerity measures aimed at cutting unnecessary expenditure and fuel consumption.
Background of the Reduction
Earlier, on May 13, Majhi had already scaled down his carcade from 12 vehicles to seven, following an advisory from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of the West Asia situation. The latest reduction comes a day after the chief minister issued an eight-point advisory to curb fuel usage by the state administration.
Virtual Meetings and Electric Vehicles
The chief minister has directed all government meetings, reviews, training sessions, and workshops to be conducted in virtual mode unless physical presence is unavoidable. Only essential personnel are required to attend in person, while others will join online. Additionally, from June 1, all new two-wheelers and four-wheelers procured for government offices will be electric vehicles. Petrol or diesel vehicles will be allowed only in exceptional cases, and hired cars must also be electric.
These measures underscore the state government's commitment to austerity and environmental sustainability. Citizens can also check daily rates for gold, silver, bank holidays, public holidays, and fuel prices in Bhubaneswar for better financial planning.
