Odisha Minister Urges People to Reduce Fuel Consumption, Adopt EVs
Subsidies for EVs extended till 2028 to encourage clean transportation
Bhubaneswar: Odisha minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena on Wednesday urged people to reduce fuel consumption and increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs), echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for responsible transportation practices and energy conservation.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s message on sustainable mobility, Mr Jena appealed to citizens to adopt eco-friendly travel habits and minimise unnecessary dependence on conventional fuel-powered vehicles.
The minister said the Prime Minister had advised people to increasingly use EVs, avoid unnecessary travel and discourage the use of separate vehicles for single-person commuting. He also lauded Mr Modi’s symbolic move to reduce the number of vehicles in the Prime Minister’s carcade, describing it as an example of responsible governance and fuel conservation.
Highlighting the Centre’s push towards electric mobility, Mr Jena said subsidies for EVs have been extended till 2028 to encourage wider adoption of clean transportation.
He urged people to increasingly opt for electric vehicles and support the transition towards sustainable and environment-friendly mobility systems.
The minister also appealed to citizens to make greater use of public transport services such as ‘Ama Bus’ instead of relying on private vehicles for short-distance or individual travel.
In addition, he advocated car-pooling and scooty-pooling practices to help reduce fuel consumption, traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
Reinforcing the Prime Minister’s message through personal commitment, Mr Jena said he himself would commute using government bus services.
“Reducing fuel consumption and promoting sustainable transportation should become a collective responsibility of citizens in the interest of environmental protection and energy conservation,” he said.
The minister’s appeal comes amid growing emphasis on green mobility, cleaner energy alternatives and efficient public transport systems across Odisha and the country.