As Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified his appeal for fuel conservation amid rising global tensions and uncertainty over crude oil prices, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed an unusual political and administrative
campaign on the ground — one where ministers, MLAs, MPs, mayors and bureaucrats are stepping out of SUVs and official convoys to travel by buses, e-rickshaws, trains, scooters, bicycles and even horse carts.
The push gathered momentum after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting in Lucknow and announced a series of austerity and energy-saving measures. The state government decided to cut official convoys of ministers and senior officials by 50%, encourage online meetings, promote work-from-home culture and ask public representatives to use public transport at least once every week.
The campaign has now turned into a public political spectacle across Uttar Pradesh.
In Gonda, BJP MP Karan Bhushan Singh, son of former WFI chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, arrived at a public programme driving a newly purchased mini-bus named ‘Hanuman Rath’. Singh said he had bought three mini-buses worth nearly Rs 70 lakh to transport security personnel and staff instead of using a fleet of luxury SUVs. Until recently, he travelled in a convoy comprising a Toyota Land Cruiser, three Fortuners and an Endeavour.
Brij Bhushan Singh endorsed the Prime Minister’s appeal and said Indians needed to return to older habits of planned shopping and limited travel to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption. Taking a swipe at the Opposition, he said criticism was expected in politics but conservation was a practical necessity in the current global situation.
In Etah, BJP MLA Virendra Singh Lodhi reached the party office in an e-rickshaw, while Bijnor MLA Ashok Kumar Rana chose a horse cart for local travel. Rana said tongas were not only environment-friendly but also economical and accessible for common people.
Ballia MLA Ketki Singh travelled from Lucknow to Ballia by train and later rode an electric scooter to reach Vikas Bhawan, carrying a party worker on the pillion while security personnel followed on another scooter. The visuals quickly circulated on social media as BJP leaders attempted to amplify the fuel-saving message.
A similar scene played out in Jhansi where Garautha MLA Jawaharlal Rajput abandoned his private vehicle and travelled in buses and rickshaws across his constituency. Residents were visibly surprised to see the MLA using public transport, while Rajput appealed to people to reduce dependence on private vehicles and adopt public transport wherever possible.
In Ballia, three ministers — Minority Welfare Minister Danish Azad Ansari, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh and minister Dayashankar Mishra Dayalu — travelled together in a single vehicle to attend an official review meeting. In Pratapgarh too, Dayashankar Singh was seen carpooling with BJP leaders while appealing to people to reduce unnecessary vehicle usage.
The symbolic campaign extended to Gorakhpur where Union Minister Kamlesh Paswan, actor-turned-MP Ravi Kishan and BJP leader Vijay Dubey arrived together in one car for the foundation stone ceremony of the international cricket stadium. The leaders later released videos urging citizens to adopt Modi’s fuel conservation appeal.
In Bareilly, Mayor Umesh Gautam announced that he had completely switched to electric vehicles, including escort vehicles used in his security convoy. Gautam said he had personally purchased EVs instead of using government vehicles to promote fuel conservation and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel.
The campaign has also spread into government departments and district administrations.
In Muzaffarnagar, Chief Medical Officer Dr Sanjay Kumar Verma abandoned his car and reached the district hospital on an electric scooter. Other hospital employees turned up on bicycles and electric vehicles as part of the awareness drive promoting ride-sharing and fuel conservation.
In Pilibhit, senior district officials, including the District Magistrate, travelled together in a shared bus to attend Samadhan Diwas at Amaria tehsil. Officials said the move was aimed at demonstrating that energy conservation must begin within the administration itself rather than remain confined to official advisories.
The backdrop to the campaign is growing global concern over crude oil prices following the Iran-Israel conflict and fears of wider geopolitical instability. During recent rallies and public meetings, Modi repeatedly urged citizens to reduce consumption of petrol, diesel and LPG, use public transport, adopt carpooling and avoid unnecessary expenditure in the national interest.
Responding to the appeal, the Yogi government has now moved to institutionalise conservation measures within the administrative system. Officials said 50% of meetings in the Secretariat and directorates may now be held virtually, while seminars and workshops in government departments are also expected to shift online wherever possible.
The government is additionally considering work-from-home advisories and greater reliance on Metro networks, UPSRTC buses and PNG-based transport systems as part of a broader energy conservation roadmap.
