Guwahati, May 13: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes for austerity measures and reduced VIP convoys amid global economic uncertainty triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is already operating with one of the leanest high-security convoys among Indian chief ministers.
Official sources said that despite being a Z Plus protectee, Sarma’s convoy within Guwahati consists of only six vehicles. Unlike many high-security political convoys seen in several states, the Assam Chief Minister’s movement reportedly does not include separate ambulances or jammer vehicles.
Sources said the minimal convoy arrangement is not a recent adjustment linked to the Centre’s current push towards fuel conservation and austerity. According to officials familiar with the matter, Himanta Biswa Sarma has consciously followed this streamlined convoy model over the past five years and has continued with the same approach after assuming office for a second consecutive term.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently appealed for reduced fuel consumption, smaller convoys, greater use of electric vehicles and broader cost-cutting measures to mitigate the economic impact of rising global oil prices linked to tensions in West Asia.
Officials said Sarma’s convoy has been structured to remain operationally efficient while avoiding unnecessary deployment of vehicles. However, the convoy size usually increases during the Chief Minister’s visits outside Guwahati, mainly because district administration officials, police personnel and departmental teams join the movement for field inspections and review meetings.
To address this issue, the Assam Chief Minister is now considering the introduction of a “caravan-style” official vehicle for district tours. According to sources, the proposed arrangement would allow district officials, senior bureaucrats and key officers to travel together with the Chief Minister in a single larger vehicle during inter-district visits.
Officials said the proposed system is intended to reduce the number of accompanying vehicles while also improving administrative efficiency. The travel time could simultaneously be utilised for governance-related discussions, project reviews and coordination meetings, thereby saving both time and resources.
Sources added that the proposal aligns with the Centre’s broader austerity narrative and could potentially emerge as a model for reducing expenditure on VIP movement without compromising administrative coordination or security management.
The development also reflects a growing trend among BJP-led governments to project administrative minimalism and fuel-saving measures following the Prime Minister’s call for greater economic prudence.
