Mumbai: All ministers and bureaucrats in the state should travel by public transport, including Metro, at least once a week initially, CM Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday. The push to use public transport came on the heels of PM Narendra Modi calling upon citizens to reduce the use of petrol/diesel and to use public transport.The number of vehicles in the convoys of ministers, including that of the CM, are being reduced by half with immediate effect. For all outstation travel, the responsibility of ensuring that the number of vehicles does not exceed the prescribed limit will be the responsibility of the local police commissioner or the superintendent of police.The CM also made it clear that ministers and officials are not to undertake any foreign tour. Ministers have been directed not to use govt aircraft and helicopters when not essential and to instead use regular airline services.Fadnavis held two high-level meetings at the Sahyadri state guesthouse, at which the chief secretary and the director general of police were present.Governor Jishnu Dev Verma, too, initiated steps to rationalise the size of his official convoy. He directed the state home department to review the existing security arrangements relating to his convoy and assess the feasibility of reducing the number of vehicles deployed. In a letter to Manisha Mhaiskar, additional chief secretary, home, the governor’s secretary stated he desires a reassessment of the current threat perception and an examination of measures to optimise convoy deployment for energy conservation.At the meetings, Fadnavis said ministers and officials must increase the use of public transport, such as Metro. In the first phase, such an exercise shall be carried out for at least one day in a week, he said. Fadnavis also said instead of summoning officials to physical meetings, video conferencing calls should be held. A strict review will be conducted of vehicles distributed in the govt.For energy conservation, stringent action will be taken against unnecessary hoardings/flex boards and it will have to be ensured that decorative lighting is not used.Responding to the opposition’s criticism over the PM’s call, Fadnavis said considering the global crisis, Modi made certain suggestions to ensure that the country’s economy does not get derailed. “If the opposition does not wish to follow the suggestions made by the PM, it should at least desist from ridiculing them. It is the responsibility of every individual to make an effort to implement these suggestions,” he said.
