NEW DELHI — Responding to an appeal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced new measures to curb the use of official vehicles across the state government. The move comes amidst rising global fuel prices and energy supply uncertainties triggered by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Key Measures for Government Officials
The Chief Minister confirmed that the restrictions would apply to a broad range of public representatives and administrative departments:
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Scope of Restrictions: The limits apply to the Chief Minister herself, her Cabinet colleagues, BJP MLAs, public representatives, and all Delhi government officers and departments.
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Operational Changes: Use of official vehicles will be minimized based on necessity.
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Alternative Methods: Officials have been directed to prioritize carpooling and the use of public transport for official business.
Public Appeal and Austerity Measures
In addition to internal government mandates, CM Rekha Gupta extended the call for austerity to the residents of Delhi through a social media announcement:
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Public Transport: Residents are urged to increase their use of the Delhi Metro and bus services to reduce dependence on private vehicles.
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“Nation First”: The Chief Minister framed these actions as a responsible duty toward the country during a period of global energy instability.
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Broader Context: These steps follow the Prime Minister’s wider recommendations, which include promoting work-from-home, limiting gold purchases, and reducing foreign travel and petroleum consumption.
The announcement highlights a coordinated effort between the central and state leadership to manage the domestic impact of spiraling global fuel costs.
