Uttarakhand govt announces fuel-saving measures, cuts ministers’ convoy size by 50%; pushes EV use

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday announced a series of measures aimed at fuel and energy conservation during a Cabinet meeting held in Dehradun, citing global economic pressures arising from the Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing Middle East crisis.

The state government said the decisions were taken amid concerns over rising fuel prices, import dependence and supply chain disruptions affecting fuel, food items and fertilisers.

Among the key decisions, the number of vehicles in the fleets of the chief minister and ministers will be reduced by 50%. The government said it will also observe one “No Vehicle Day” every week, during which work-from-home practices will be encouraged.

The Cabinet has decided to promote video conferencing for official meetings and encourage greater use of public transport by government employees. Officers handling multiple departments will be permitted to use only one official vehicle per day.

The state also announced plans to introduce a new electric vehicle policy under which 50% of all new government vehicle purchases will be electric vehicles. Expansion of EV charging infrastructure will also be prioritised.

The government said official foreign visits would be restricted and domestic tourism within Uttarakhand would be promoted through campaigns focusing on religious, wellness, rural and eco-tourism circuits.

The Cabinet also decided to launch public awareness campaigns encouraging reduced fuel and edible oil consumption. Hotels and eateries will be encouraged to introduce low-oil menus, while schools, hospitals and government canteens will review oil usage.

The state government further announced measures to promote natural farming, rooftop solar installations, PNG connections and biogas projects. A high-powered committee headed by the chief secretary will fast-track approvals for mining, solar and power projects within 60 days