Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to the people to adopt fuel conservation measures in the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia crisis and growing concerns over global fuel consumption, CN N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and IT Minister Nara Lokesh have reduced the size of their official vehicle convoys as part of statewide austerity measures.
As part of the initiative, the Chief Minister’s convoy has been cut down from 12 vehicles to just four.
On Thursday morning, Chandrababu Naidu travelled to the state secretariat with only two National Security Guard security vehicles and a limited escort arrangement.
Similarly, the Deputy Chief Minister’s convoy has reportedly been reduced by nearly half.
Lokesh, too, has scaled down his convoy from four vehicles to two, while a separate mini-van has been arranged for accompanying security personnel.
Other ministers in the state cabinet have also begun implementing similar cost-cutting and fuel-saving measures by restricting the number of vehicles used during official travel.
The Chief Minister has reportedly instructed ministers and other VIPs to use the minimum number of vehicles possible.
He also directed officials to ensure that vehicle usage is reduced by nearly 50 percent across all levels of administration.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government is working on additional austerity and energy-saving measures.
Sources indicated that a key policy decision on expenditure and fuel conservation is likely to be discussed and finalised during the state cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday, after which the Chief Minister is expected to make a formal announcement.
Calling upon citizens to act responsibly in the national interest, Chandrababu Naidu urged people to consciously adopt conservation measures during the prevailing international situation.
