Patna: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption and promote sustainable practices, Bihar ministers and senior officials have started downsizing their vehicle convoys and adopting fuel-saving measures.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has begun using an electric vehicle for travel within Patna city and has reportedly reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy. He has also appealed to other ministers and public representatives to limit the number of cars accompanying them.
In a parallel move, several ministers have started carpooling, while some government officials are increasingly using public transportation.
Potential Savings for Bihar Government
The development has sparked discussions on how much fuel and public money could be saved if ministers reduce the size of their convoys by half.
According to officials, there is no fixed public rule regarding the number of vehicles allowed in a minister’s convoy in Bihar. The number depends on factors such as the minister’s security category, official position, travel requirements, and local administrative arrangements.
On average, a Bihar minister’s convoy consists of around five vehicles, including official cars, escort vehicles, and security arrangements. Some ministers, however, already operate with fewer vehicles.
Who Bears the Expense?
The entire cost of vehicles used by ministers and senior officials, including fuel, drivers, maintenance, security personnel, and police escorts, is borne by the state government and the concerned departments.
A Bihar minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ministers are required only to maintain fuel vouchers and submit them to their departments for reimbursement. There is currently no fixed limit on fuel expenditure for ministers. Expenses related to police security and escort vehicles are covered separately by the Home Department.
Diesel Consumption and Financial Impact
Officials estimate that a ministerial convoy travels an average of 100 to 150 kilometres daily. Most convoy vehicles are diesel-powered SUVs such as the Toyota Innova and Mahindra Scorpio, which provide an average mileage of around 10 km per litre.
Based on this estimate, one vehicle consumes nearly 15 litres of diesel for 150 kilometres of travel. A five-vehicle convoy would therefore consume approximately 75 litres of diesel per day.
Excluding the Chief Minister, Bihar currently has 34 ministers. Together, their convoys consume an estimated 2,550 litres of diesel daily. Over a month, this figure rises to nearly 76,500 litres.
At the current diesel price of approximately Rs 94 per litre, the monthly fuel expenditure on ministerial convoys is estimated at around Rs 71.91 lakh.
Officials estimate that if ministers reduce their convoy sizes by half, the state could save nearly Rs 36 lakh every month in diesel expenses alone.
Chief Minister’s Convoy Also Being Reduced
The Chief Minister’s convoy currently consists of around 21 vehicles, though its expenditure is calculated separately. Sources said CM Samrat Choudhary has already decided to cut the number of vehicles in his convoy significantly.
On Wednesday, the Chief Minister arrived at the Secretariat in an electric vehicle, signalling the government’s intent to encourage fuel conservation and cleaner mobility options.
Government May Introduce Fuel Limits
Although no formal order has been issued yet, sources indicated that the Bihar government may soon introduce measures to regulate fuel usage by ministers and senior officials.
The government is reportedly considering capping unlimited petrol and diesel reimbursements currently available to ministers. It may also issue instructions to reduce the number of vehicles in official convoys.
Officials’ Fuel Quotas May Also Be Reduced
Following the Prime Minister’s appeal, several states have begun implementing measures to reduce official fuel consumption, including reducing convoy sizes and fixing fuel expenditure limits.
In Bihar, secretary-level officers currently receive 200 to 300 litres of petrol or diesel every month, while Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) rank officers receive between 150 and 200 litres. The state government is now considering reducing these quotas by half.
CM Appeals for Public Transport and Work From Home
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday appealed to citizens to use public transportation wherever possible. He also suggested implementing work-from-home arrangements in private and government offices to reduce unnecessary travel and fuel consumption.
The Chief Minister further urged ministers and elected representatives to voluntarily reduce the number of vehicles used in their official movements.
