The Odisha government has issued an eight-point guideline for its employees to cut fuel consumption amid the West Asia crisis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity.

Under the guidelines, every government office has been asked to ensure at least a 10 per cent reduction in monthly petrol and diesel consumption for official vehicles.

A release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the state government will procure only electric vehicles as part of its fuel-saving measures in the coming days. From June 1, all two-wheelers and four-wheelers purchased by state government departments will have to be electric vehicles. Departments have also been directed to hire only EVs whenever vehicles are required.

While the EV industry is hopeful of increased business, travel agencies have expressed concern over the implementation of the guidelines. “EV taxis are not available in the market. How will we provide EV taxis” an executive of a travel agency said.

The CMO has also asked officials to adopt vehicle pooling and ride-sharing wherever possible. As part of the austerity measures, officials have been advised to travel by bus or train for field visits and inspections to distant places instead of using official vehicles.

All non-essential government meetings, reviews, training sessions and workshops will be held virtually. Only officers whose presence is unavoidable will participate physically.

The finance department has been asked to frame fresh guidelines within 15 days specifying which senior officers can use government vehicles for personal purposes. Officials owning electric vehicles will also receive guidelines on using them for official duties and claiming reimbursement.

To transport employees to offices, the state government plans to use EV buses from residential areas with a high concentration of government staff.