Mumbai, May 19 Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for fuel conservation amid the ongoing United States-Iran war, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday opted to travel by a commercial Air India flight instead of a private jet for his scheduled visit to Delhi.
The Deputy Chief Minister departed from Mumbai for the national capital on the 4 p.m. Air India flight.
He is attending a two-day special review meeting for the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Deputy Chief Minister is scheduled to participate actively in the meeting on Wednesday.
Known for regularly using private aircraft for official travel, Shinde chose to travel alongside ordinary citizens on a commercial airliner this time.
According to a release issued by the Deputy Chief Minister’s office, Shinde has been at the forefront of implementing eco-friendly measures.
He had earlier transitioned to using an Electric Vehicle, reduced the number of convoy vehicles, and cut down on helicopter trips.
Upon his arrival at Mumbai airport, Shinde received a warm welcome from citizens and co-passengers.
Many took the opportunity to photograph him, while others handed over memoranda regarding their grievances.
Shinde interacted warmly with the crowd, accepted their greetings, and then boarded his flight.
In a related development, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar on Tuesday responded to PM Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation and environmental protection amid the global energy crisis by adopting an electric vehicle for her daily use and reducing the number of vehicles in her convoy.
By opting for an electric vehicle, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar has taken a significant step towards promoting green energy and encouraging an environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
Along with switching to an electric vehicle, she has also reduced the number of vehicles in her convoy.
Through her actions, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar conveyed the message that fuel conservation and environmental protection are the collective responsibility of every citizen, in the backdrop of the global energy crisis, and that even small efforts can bring about meaningful change.
With rising global oil prices posing future economic challenges, PM Modi had urged the nation to practise fuel conservation and advised political colleagues to lead by example.
Following this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had convened a special meeting to issue specific guidelines for state ministers.
Last week, he travelled from his official residence, Varsha, to Vidhan Bhavan on a motorcycle, and then to Bengaluru in economy class on a commercial flight.
--IANS
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