Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly reduced the number of vehicles in his official convoy in recent domestic visits, officials told multiple outlets. The change follows an appeal for austerity made days earlier, with Modi urging citizens to reduce fuel use and adopt measures aimed at saving energy amid rising global prices connected to the conflict in West Asia. Reports say the convoy reduction is implemented while keeping essential security elements in place according to the protocol of the Special Protection Group (SPG), which provides the highest level of personal security to the prime minister. Sources also say Modi asks that electric vehicles be included in his motorcade where feasible, without making new purchases. Coverage indicates the downsizing occurred during visits to Gujarat and Assam after Modi’s speech in Hyderabad. Some reports also note that prior to the adjustment the convoy was believed to include about a dozen vehicles, though outlets do not consistently confirm the exact post-reduction number. Separate reporting also says state ministers have downsize their own convoys as part of broader austerity messaging. The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately comment in at least one report.
Modi cuts convoy size and adds EVs after austerity appeal
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly reduced the number of vehicles in his official convoy in recent domestic visits, officials told multiple outlets. The change follows an appeal for au...
- Reports say Modi significantly reduces the number of vehicles in his official convoy during recent domestic visits.
- The change keeps essential SPG security components in place, following established protocol.
- Modi asks for electric vehicles to be included in the convoy where possible, without new purchases.
- The downsizing is linked to Modi’s recent public austerity appeal amid higher energy prices connected to the West Asia situation.
- Some outlets report state ministers also reduce their convoys to align with austerity measures.
This comes days after PM Modi called for reducing fuel consumption
3 months agoIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “significantly” cut the size of his motorcade to save fuel, a government source said on Wednesday, days after Modi urged citizens to tighten their belts amid a surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war. Modi appealed to people on Sunday to adopt austerity measures, including avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, using public transport, reducing gold purchases and cutting their use of cooking oil, as soaring global energy prices put pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Following the appeal, some critics on social media questioned the large motorcades of senior Indian politicians, Modi’s domestic flights and his upcoming Europe visit on his official aircraft. The number of vehicles in Modi’s motorcade was reduced while ensuring essential security components, in line with the protocol of the Special Protection Group that guards the prime minister, the source said, without specifying the motorcade’s actual size. Modi gets the highest level of personal security in the country and his motorcade was known to have about a dozen vehicles before the reduction. Modi scaled down motorcades for visits this week to his home state of Gujarat and the northeastern state of Assam, the source said, adding that the prime minister had also asked for electric vehicles to be included in his motorcade where feasible but without making any new purchases. The source declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media. The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz, closed during the US-Israel war with Iran, for supplies of crude, liquefied natural gas and cooking gas. Higher oil prices threaten to widen the country’s current account deficit, hurt growth, and stoke inflation while Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal to end hostilities, more than a month after a tenuous ceasefire paused fighting. India has avoided raising petrol and diesel prices so far but an increase is considered imminent due to the situation in the Middle East.
3 months agoNarendra Modi has significantly reduced the size of his motorcade and included EVs in the smaller convoy without making new purchases, say sources.
3 months agoNEW DELHI, May 13 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "significantly" cut the size of his motorcadeto save fuel, a government source said on Wednesday, days after he urged citizens to tighten their belts amid a surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war.Modi appealed to people on Sunday to adopt austerity measures, including avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, using public transport, reducing gold purchases and cutting their use of cooking oil, as soaring global energy prices put pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves.
3 months agoPrime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly reduced the number of vehicles in his official convoy. The reports come as Modi is making an austerity appeal to Indians. DW has the latest.
3 months agoPrime Minister Narendra Modi has significantly reduced his convoy size, days after he made an appeal for austerity and urged the citizens to curb the use of fuel-driven vehicles. A downsizing in the prime minister's convoy was implemented in his recent domestic visits, official sources said. The reduction was done while maintaining essential security components as per SPG protocol. Modi's convoy size was cut in Gujarat and Assam, immediately after his speech in Hyderabad. Sources said the prime minister also asked for electric vehicles to be included in his convoy, where possible, without making new purchases. Amid the crisis in West Asia, Modi on Sunday made a push for austerity while addressing a rally organised by the Telangana BJP in Hyderabad. The prime minister suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of electric vehicles, utilising railway services for parcel movement, and working from home to conserve
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