Vaishali: Senior officials in Bihar’s Vaishali district stepped away from official vehicles on Saturday in support of the state government’s ‘No Vehicle Day’ initiative, launched following an appeal by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to reduce fuel consumption amid concerns over global energy supply disruptions.
District Magistrate Varsha Singh, along with several administrative officers, reached the Collectorate either on foot, by bicycle or through e-rickshaws, leaving the usually crowded parking area largely empty.
Speaking to reporters in Hajipur, Singh urged residents of Vaishali to dedicate one day each week to fuel-free commuting by walking, cycling or using public transport and e-rickshaws. She said the state government’s message was aimed at encouraging fuel conservation and reducing dependency on petrol and diesel.
The district magistrate travelled from her official residence to Trimurti Chowk by e-rickshaw before walking through Gandhi Chowk to reach her office. Other senior officials, including Additional District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Development Commissioner Kundan Kumar and SDO Ram Babu Baitha, also participated in the campaign.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which officials fear could disrupt the global supply of petroleum products and natural gas. In response, the Bihar government has appealed to citizens and government employees to minimise the use of private vehicles and observe one ‘No Vehicle Day’ every week.
Singh said all district officials and employees in Vaishali would continue to follow the practice every Saturday and would also promote carpooling and public transport use.
She further appealed to residents to adopt cleaner sources of energy, including rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Yojana scheme and PNG gas connections, as part of wider efforts to reduce dependence on conventional fuels.
