Guwahati, June 7: Several Assam ministers travelled together to the state BJP headquarters, Vajpayee Bhavan, on Friday as part of a carpooling initiative aimed at reducing fuel consumption and encouraging austerity in public life.
The move was undertaken in response to a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to minimise unnecessary fuel expenditure amid concerns arising from the global situation, particularly the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
State minister Pijush Hazarika shared details of the initiative in a post on X, stating that he and several of his Cabinet colleagues had chosen to carpool in keeping with appeals made by both the Prime Minister and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
In his post, Hazarika said the Prime Minister had urged public representatives to exercise prudence in public conduct, while the Chief Minister had also called on ministers and officials to cut down on avoidable expenses.
Responding to the minister’s message, Sarma described the carpooling effort as a positive initiative and said elected representatives should lead by example by adopting practical austerity measures. He noted that steps such as shared travel can help reduce unnecessary expenditure while promoting responsible use of resources.
The initiative comes amid a broader emphasis on cost-saving measures and fuel conservation, with public representatives being encouraged to demonstrate restraint and efficiency in official activities.
