Bhubaneswar: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for cost-cutting measures amid the global oil crisis triggered by the ongoing situation in West Asia, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday urged citizens to minimise the use of private vehicles and rely more on public transport.

In his appeal, the Chief Minister advised people to use vehicles only when absolutely necessary and avoid unnecessary fuel consumption.

Setting an example, Majhi has also reduced the number of vehicles in his personal security convoy. Official sources said the number of vehicles deployed for his security has been cut by half.

The Chief Minister further urged citizens to curb non-essential expenditure, advising against unnecessary purchases of gold and avoidable foreign travel.

Notably, the Prime Minister had earlier called for austerity measures, with a special emphasis on reducing petrol consumption in view of the global energy situation.

Meanwhile, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said that Lok Bhavan has initiated steps to switch to electric vehicles. He added a 500-kilowatt solar rooftop system is also being set up to generate power.

Quoting the Prime Minister’s appeal, the Governor said citizens should reduce dependence on petrol and diesel vehicles and shift towards electric mobility to help cut crude oil imports and strengthen the country’s economy.

The appeals from the Prime Minister, Governor and Chief Minister come amid rising concerns over energy security and the need to conserve foreign exchange reserves in the face of escalating geopolitical tensions.