In a decisive step to shield the state from rising fuel prices amid the volatile situation in West Asia, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has rolled out a comprehensive 8-point directive aimed at drastically reducing petrol and diesel consumption across all government departments.
Having already slashed the number of vehicles in his own office by half and appealed to the public to curb unnecessary fuel use, the CM is now leading by example with a sweeping administrative overhaul that blends technology, electric mobility, and behavioural change.
The Chief Minister personally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the fuel crisis at the national level. Now, he has instructed the Chief Secretary to enforce these measures strictly from the State Secretariat down to block-level offices, public sector undertakings, universities, and all government institutions.
Here are the key highlights of the 8-point plan:
- Virtual-First Approach: All non-essential government meetings, reviews, trainings, and workshops will shift to virtual mode. Where physical presence is unavoidable, only essential officers will attend in person, while others join online.
- Electric Vehicle Mandate from June 1: Every new two-wheeler and four-wheeler purchased by government offices must be electric (EV). The same rule applies to rented four-wheelers. Petrol or diesel vehicles will be allowed only in rare, specially justified cases.
- Carpooling for Senior Officers: Officers entitled to official cars for personal use will now share vehicles (carpooling). Fuel quotas for such cars will be halved immediately.
- Clear Guidelines on Official Cars: The Finance Department has been given 15 days to issue fresh guidelines specifying which senior officers can use government vehicles for personal purposes.
- Travel Smart: Officials undertaking field visits or inspections must prefer buses or trains over cars or flights wherever possible.
- Personal EVs for Official Work: Officers owning their own electric vehicles will soon receive guidelines on how they can use them for government duties and claim reimbursement.
- Electric Commuter Services: Electric buses or minibuses will be introduced to ferry employees from residential colonies with high concentrations of government staff.
- 10% Minimum Reduction Target: Every government office must ensure at least a 10% drop in monthly petrol and diesel consumption for official vehicles through conscious planning and monitoring.
The Chief Minister has directed that these instructions be implemented with “zero tolerance” across the entire administrative machinery.
This bold initiative not only aims to save precious public money but also signals Odisha’s commitment to sustainable governance and green mobility at a time when global fuel markets are under strain.
