The Gujarat government on Friday, 15 May unveiled a sweeping package of austerity and resource-conservation measures — covering official travel, vehicle use, government events, and public transport — following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for prudent use of national resources. The decisions were cleared at a state cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar.

Key Measures Announced

State government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani outlined the package after the cabinet meeting. Officials across all departments have been directed to avoid physical travel wherever possible, relying instead on video conferencing, telephone, and e-mail for routine official work. Field-level officers are not to be summoned for meetings unless strictly necessary, and participation in meetings convened by the Centre or other state governments should be handled online 'as far as possible,' according to the guidelines.

Foreign visits, overseas training programmes, seminars, and conferences are to be avoided except under unavoidable circumstances. Where travel outside Gujarat is compelled, senior officials have been instructed not to carry unnecessary staff. District-to-district travel has similarly been discouraged, with officials required to notify their controlling authority before any such movement.

EV Mandate and Vehicle Rationalisation

In a notable operational shift, officials who have access to electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid vehicles as an alternative to conventional government cars will now be required to use them exclusively. All administrative departments and subordinate offices have been ordered to audit their official vehicle fleets and withdraw surplus vehicles from active service. Officers holding multiple charges will be permitted to retain only one primary vehicle, with all additional vehicles deposited into the government vehicle pool.

Government employees have also been encouraged to use public transport — including Metro rail, GSRTC buses, and railways — in place of private vehicles. In a related move, Metro rail services will be extended until 11 pm to facilitate this shift.

Simpler Events, Mandatory PNG in Canteens

Government events and inauguration programmes are to be organised 'with simplicity,' with departments encouraged to use virtual methods for official functions wherever feasible. As part of energy-saving measures, piped natural gas (PNG) connectivity will be made mandatory in all government canteens within the next six months.

The state has also decided to strengthen procurement policies to prioritise indigenous products, locally manufactured goods, and MSMEs across government institutions.

Anti-Hoarding Drive and Public Appeal

The government announced plans to run public awareness campaigns against panic buying and unnecessary hoarding. Vaghani appealed directly to citizens: 'Citizens should not panic under any circumstances and should avoid unnecessary hoarding of resources.' Drawing a parallel with the Covid-19 pandemic, he expressed confidence that the people of Gujarat would extend cooperation similar to what they showed during that period.

What the Government Said

'Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government is committed to protecting both the environment and the government treasury,' Vaghani said. He added that the measures were expected to significantly reduce consumption of petrol, diesel, and foreign exchange while safeguarding both the environment and the public exchequer. This package represents one of the more comprehensive administrative austerity drives undertaken by any state government in recent years, and signals Gujarat's alignment with the Centre's push for resource discipline amid evolving global economic conditions.