Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for efficient use of national resources — encompassing fuel conservation, shared mobility, and flexible working arrangements — is visibly reshaping workplace and commuting practices within parts of Surat's information technology sector, according to employees and business leaders in the city.

How IT Firms Are Responding

Kunal Shah, Chief Executive Officer and Director of BizInsights IT Solutions, said his company restructured its working model directly in response to the Prime Minister's appeal. Approximately 70 per cent of staff are now working remotely, with in-office attendance restricted to employees on critical assignments or approaching project deadlines.

'The appeal that PM Modi has made, we are following it quite well and are continuing to follow it,' Shah said. In a workforce of over 20 employees, around 12 to 13 are currently working from home, with coordination maintained through online meetings, phone calls, and digital platforms — an arrangement Shah described as ensuring 'continuity of work while supporting reduced travel requirements.'

A Familiar Model, Redeployed

Shah noted that hybrid and remote working models, widely adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic, are being reintroduced in a more targeted form. This time, the driver is not a public health emergency but a national resource-efficiency push. He argued that the approach carries a dual benefit: cutting fuel consumption and reducing private vehicle dependency.

'Fuel will be saved, and people will use public transport… dependency on external fuel should be reduced as much as possible,' Shah said, adding that employees are also encouraged to share travel where practical. He also called on businesses to adopt a cooperative rather than purely competitive outlook, suggesting that companies explore ways to support unemployed individuals through freelancing or smaller assignments to sustain economic activity.

Employees Shift Commuting Habits

Dhruvi, an IT professional in Surat, said her organisation has adopted partial work-from-home arrangements. On days when office attendance is required, she travels with a family member rather than driving alone. 'Earlier we used to come by personal vehicle, but now I come with my father or brother, whoever is available, so they drop me,' she said, noting that shared household travel has become more common.

Kartik, an intern who commutes approximately 15 to 20 kilometres to work, said he regularly carpools with a friend and occasionally uses private cabs. He also reported an increase in public transport use for non-work travel, citing both cost savings and reduced resource consumption. 'The money in our hands is being saved, and we are not consuming too many resources. So in both ways, it's a win-win,' he said.

Broader Significance

The shifts described by Surat-based IT workers reflect a wider pattern: Modi's appeal is functioning less as a regulatory mandate and more as a behavioural nudge that firms and individuals are translating into operational decisions. This comes amid India's sustained focus on energy security and import dependency, with fuel efficiency increasingly framed as both an economic and strategic priority. Whether these changes outlast the immediate appeal — or remain embedded as lasting workplace norms — will depend on continued institutional reinforcement.