Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve fuel, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took decisive action; through the State Cabinet, he officially approved a series of measures and energy-saving reforms aimed at reducing dependence on fuel and strengthening the national economy.
Additional Secretary of the Chief Minister reached the office on a bicycle
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has mandated a 50% reduction in the official vehicle fleet allocated to himself and all his Cabinet ministers. Furthermore, to encourage State Cabinet ministers, public representatives, and government officials to utilize public transportation, he has approved the observance of a “No Vehicle Day” (or Vahan Nishedh Divas) once a week. The Dhami administration has also taken a significant step to reduce daily commuting and the associated fuel consumption by approving a “Work from Home” option for state government employees. Additionally, the state government is implementing a comprehensive Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, under which more than 50% of all newly procured government vehicles will be electric; concurrently, the local EV charging infrastructure is being expanded.
Acting upon CM Dhami’s appeal for fuel conservation, many state officials were observed utilizing public transport, while several others were seen foregoing their vehicles to commute to their offices on bicycles. Issuing orders on any subject is easy, but personally walking the talk—by adhering to those very principles—is the hallmark of true and visionary leadership. Shri Banshidhar Tiwari—Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister, Director General of Information, and Vice Chairman of the MDDA—exemplified this very message today. By cycling from his residence on Sahastradhara Road to the Directorate of Information located on the Ring Road, he presented a powerful and tangible example of energy conservation, environmental protection, and responsible governance.
