Gandhinagar | In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for thrift and prudent use of resources, the Gujarat government has announced a series of measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption, conserving resources and promoting efficient governance.

The decisions were taken under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi. Following a State Cabinet meeting held on Friday, government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani outlined the proposed steps.

Among the key decisions, government departments have been directed to undertake official travel only when absolutely necessary. Officials have been encouraged to make maximum use of video conferencing, telephone and e-mail services and to avoid unnecessary travel.

Regional officers are to attend meetings virtually wherever possible, while participation in meetings of other states or the central government should also preferably take place online. Foreign travel and participation in international seminars, conferences and training programmes have been discouraged except in unavoidable circumstances.

The government has also instructed senior officers not to travel with unnecessary accompanying staff. Officials have been advised to avoid travel outside their districts unless essential and inform controlling authorities before such visits.

A major focus has been placed on reducing government vehicle usage. Administrative departments will review their vehicle fleets and decommission excess vehicles. Officers handling multiple responsibilities have been directed to surrender extra vehicles, retaining only one primary vehicle under the Government Vehicle Pool system.

The state government has also encouraged a shift towards electric and hybrid mobility. Officials with access to electric vehicles have been instructed to use EVs or hybrid vehicles wherever possible.

To promote environmentally friendly commuting, officers and employees have been encouraged to use public transport systems including metro services, state transport buses and railways instead of private vehicles. In a significant public convenience measure, the government has decided to extend metro services till 11 pm.

Further, procurement policies across government institutions will be strengthened to prioritise indigenous products, locally manufactured goods and MSMEs. Government functions and programmes will be conducted in a simpler manner, with emphasis on virtual inaugurations and online participation.

The government has also announced that Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connectivity will be made mandatory in all government canteens within the next six months.

Additionally, authorities plan to launch a public awareness campaign discouraging panic buying and unnecessary hoarding of resources.

Appealing to citizens not to panic or stockpile resources, the minister said Gujarat had earlier shown exemplary cooperation during the Covid period and expressed confidence that people would again respond positively in the larger national interest.

The government stated that these measures, introduced against the backdrop of the present global situation, aim to reduce consumption of petrol, diesel and foreign exchange while simultaneously protecting both the environment and the public exchequer. DeshGujarat