'Restart work from home': PM Modi urges fuel-saving measures amid energy crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for a series of austerity measures as India faces mounting pressure from soaring global crude oil prices and supply disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Speaking in Hyderabad after inaugurating multiple development projects, Modi urged citizens to cut fuel consumption, avoid unnecessary foreign travel and reduce dependence on imported goods to help ease pressure on the economy.

Push for fuel conservation

Highlighting India's heavy dependence on imported crude oil, Modi said conserving fuel had become a national responsibility. India imports more than 88 per cent of the crude oil it processes, while global prices have sharply risen since the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia.

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"In this time of global crisis, we have to make a resolution keeping duty paramount and fulfil it with complete dedication," Hindustan Times quoted PM Modi as saying. "A big resolution is to use petrol and diesel sparingly. We must curb our use of petrol and diesel. In cities with Metro lines, we should decide to travel by Metro only. If we must use a car, then we should try to carpool," he added.

He also encouraged greater use of electric vehicles and shifting freight transport towards railways to reduce fuel consumption.

'Restart these systems'

The Prime Minister revived the idea of work-from-home arrangements that became common during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying they could once again help reduce fuel use and save foreign exchange.

"During the Corona period, we developed many systems of work from home, online meetings, and video conferences, and we even became accustomed to them. Today, the demands of the times are such that if we restart these systems, it will be in the national interest," he said.

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Modi stressed that rising fuel import costs were putting pressure on India's foreign exchange reserves and weakening the rupee.

Appeal to avoid foreign travel and gold purchases

The Prime Minister also asked people to postpone non-essential overseas travel, destination weddings and vacations for at least a year.

"The growing culture of weddings abroad, travelling abroad, and vacationing abroad is becoming prevalent among the middle class. We must decide that during this time of crisis, we should postpone travelling abroad for at least a year," he said.

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Modi further appealed to citizens to avoid buying gold for a year and reduce edible oil consumption, saying imports in both sectors were adding pressure on foreign exchange reserves. He also called for lower use of chemical fertilisers and a shift towards natural farming practices.

Government officials indicated that while fuel prices have largely remained stable so far, continued pressure from global oil markets may make future price hikes difficult to avoid.