Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for austerity and fuel conservation amid the ongoing fuel crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and several state ministers on Thursday significantly reduced the size of their official convoys.

The move came shortly after the Prime Minister reportedly decided to cut more than 50 percent of the vehicles attached to his official motorcade as part of fuel-saving measures. Responding to the appeal, senior members of the Odisha government were seen adopting similar steps while arriving at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar for official work.

Sources said Chief Minister Mohan Majhi arrived with a convoy nearly half its usual size, while several ministers travelled with only a single vehicle. The development was widely seen as a symbolic yet significant gesture aimed at promoting responsible fuel consumption during the ongoing crisis.

Speaking on the issue, Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said the Prime Minister’s appeal should be followed by everyone and stressed the need for collective responsibility during the current situation.

Also Read: Fuel crisis hits Odisha, nearly 2,000 private buses stay off roads

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo was also seen sending back his pilot vehicle. He stated that he would henceforth use only one vehicle and urged people to accept and follow the Prime Minister’s appeal for fuel conservation.

The fuel crisis has already started affecting public transport services across Odisha. According to reports, nearly 2,000 private buses have gone off the roads due to fuel shortages, causing inconvenience to passengers and disrupting transport operations in several parts of the state.