Bhubaneswar, May 13: Amid the ongoing Middle East war crisis and rising concerns over fuel conservation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to save fuel and has reportedly reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy by 50 percent.

Welcoming the move, Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said he would now prefer travelling by government buses and use personal vehicles only in emergency situations. He stated that while three vehicles earlier accompanied him during official tours, he would now travel with only one vehicle. The minister said the Prime Minister’s appeal should be reflected in the actions of both leaders and the public.

Meanwhile, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said Odisha was taking the Prime Minister’s message seriously. He said the appeal was necessary for society, especially at a time when fuel conservation had become important.

The minister further informed that the government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the increasing number of vehicles. As per the guidelines, vehicle owners must arrange parking facilities before registration approval. He also said the government was planning to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel.

Appealing to people to adopt fuel-saving measures, he urged citizens to use more EVs, reduce the use of petrol and diesel vehicles, and prefer public transport such as buses. On the issue of reducing the number of vehicles in the Chief Minister’s convoy, Mahapatra said the decision would be taken by the Chief Minister, adding that the Chief Minister always gives importance to the Prime Minister’s suggestions.