Delhi announces 2-day work from home, no-car day, online meetings to cut fuel consumption

The steps follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal to citizens to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption and adopt what he described as responsible spending practices.

Two-day WFH every week

Under the new policy, all Delhi government employees will work from home for two days a week.

The government also said that 50 percent of official meetings will be conducted online to reduce travel and cut fuel use.

Officials added that the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will stagger office timings to ease traffic congestion during peak hours.

Petrol quotas for officers reduced

The government has reduced the use of official vehicles as part of the conservation drive.

Monthly petrol limits for officers have been cut by 20 percent, lowering the cap from 200 litres.

In addition, the Delhi government said it will not purchase any new vehicles for the next six months.

'Metro day' and 'no-car day'

To encourage greater use of public transport, the government will observe a “Metro Day” and urge residents to participate in a “No Car Day” once every week.

For government staff, 58 special buses will operate across 29 government colonies to improve access to public transport.

The city administration also plans to launch a public campaign to promote fuel conservation and responsible consumption.

Modi’s appeal for ‘wise spending’

Prime Minister Modi recently made seven appeals to citizens, asking them to reduce fuel use, postpone gold purchases for a year, avoid unnecessary foreign travel and destination weddings abroad, and use public transport, carpooling and work-from-home arrangements wherever possible.

Government sources said the suggestions were not austerity measures or formal economic restrictions.

Instead, they described the appeal as a call for responsible consumption and economic patriotism amid rising global energy prices and pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves.

Concerns over import dependence

Officials said India remains heavily dependent on imports of crude oil, gold, fertilisers and edible oils.

They stressed that the government was not asking people to stop spending, but to spend more carefully while global supply pressures remain elevated, particularly in the wake of the ongoing conflict involving Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.