Maharashtra Government Issues Advisory Amid West Asia Crisis; CM Fadnavis Calls for Fuel Saving, Reduced Oil Use and Public Transport

Mumbai, May 14, 2026: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to citizens amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, the Maharashtra government has moved into action mode by issuing a detailed 19-point advisory aimed at conserving fuel, reducing unnecessary expenditure, and promoting sustainable practices across the state.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday directed government departments, public institutions, and citizens to adopt measures focused on energy conservation, reduced fuel consumption, and increased use of public transport and renewable energy.

The advisory comes amid concerns over possible fuel shortages, rising global tensions, and economic uncertainty linked to the geopolitical situation in West Asia.

Government Focus on Fuel and Energy Conservation

As part of the measures, the Maharashtra government has asked officials to avoid unnecessary foreign tours and cancel already approved overseas visits related to study or official purposes in order to conserve foreign exchange reserves.

Departments have been instructed to prioritise electric vehicles for official use and minimise the number of vehicles used during field visits. Officers travelling together have been encouraged to adopt carpooling, while public transport has been recommended for official travel whenever possible.

Senior officers have also been advised to use metro services, local trains, or public buses at least once a week.

The state government has additionally proposed strengthening electric vehicle charging infrastructure and expediting approvals for pending and new EV charging station proposals.

Push for Online Meetings and Reduced Public Expenditure

The advisory recommends that meetings, seminars, training programmes, and official discussions at the state, divisional, and district levels be conducted online or through video conferencing systems wherever possible.

Universities and colleges have also been asked to ensure maximum use of online platforms for academic and administrative activities.

The police department has been instructed not to grant permission for bike rallies, vehicle processions, or convoys to reduce fuel consumption.

Government departments have further been directed to reduce expenditure on advertisements, decorative lighting, flex boards, banners, and diesel generator-powered hoardings.

Food Oil Use, PNG Gas and Natural Farming Encouraged

One of the key directives includes reducing the use of edible oil in canteens, mid-day meal schemes, anganwadis, hostels, prisons, police canteens, and hospitals by modifying menus accordingly.

The advisory specifically discourages the use of palm oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil while promoting mustard oil and groundnut oil instead.

ASHA workers and anganwadi workers will conduct awareness campaigns to encourage households to reduce edible oil consumption.

The government has also directed authorities to expedite approvals for PNG gas connections and encourage hotels and restaurants in Mumbai and other major cities to shift to PNG usage.

Solar Energy and Organic Farming Promotion

Under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Yojana, the state has instructed departments to accelerate rooftop solar installations across households.

The agriculture department has been asked to run a special campaign promoting natural, organic, and bio-farming practices while reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.

The advisory also includes steps to prevent misuse of urea and encourage scientific soil testing for crop-specific fertiliser recommendations.

Consultants’ Appointments to Be Avoided for Six Months

In the final directive, all administrative departments have been instructed to avoid appointing consultants for the next six months. Divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners, and government employees have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the advisory measures across Maharashtra.