Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption amid global energy disruptions triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict, several BJP leaders on Tuesday (May 12) chose public transport over official convoys, projecting what they described as a message of austerity and civic responsibility.
Among those leading the public display were Ashish Sood and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, who travelled by metro and e-rickshaw while urging citizens to embrace public transport to conserve fuel and reduce economic pressure.
In Delhi, Education Minister Ashish Sood travelled from INA to Karkardooma Court using the Delhi Metro before boarding an e-rickshaw to reach CM Shri School in Surajmal Vihar for an official interaction programme.
During the journey, Sood was seen interacting with fellow commuters inside the metro. Later, after encountering traffic congestion, he chose to continue the final stretch of his journey via e-rickshaw.
VIDEO | Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood travelled from INA to Karkardooma Court via Delhi Metro and then from the metro station to CM Shri School, Surajmal Vihar, by e-rickshaw to attend an interaction with heads of schools of Zones 1 and 2.
(Source: Third party) pic.twitter.com/nMViK8Vj2e
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 12, 2026
Explaining the decision, Sood said the move was aimed at consciously reducing fuel consumption, especially during official inspections where multiple vehicles are often deployed.
Sharing details of his journey on social media platform X, Sood wrote that he used public transport to attend the school programme and held discussions with school heads regarding improvements in Delhi’s education system.
“I had a meaningful discussion with the HOS of Zone-1 & 2 regarding further improving the education system and making it more student-centric,” he said.
In Mumbai, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also joined the campaign by travelling on the Metro-3 Aqua Line from Vidhan Bhavan to Dharavi.
Athawale described the metro journey as modern, efficient and smooth, while appealing to citizens to increasingly adopt public transportation in daily life.
“Saving fuel, protecting the environment, and strengthening the country’s economy—making greater use of public transportation is the need of the hour today,” Athawale wrote on X after the ride.
प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी द्वारा वैश्विक युद्धों के कारण उत्पन्न तेल संकट और ईंधन बचत के आह्वान को गंभीरता से लेते हुए, आज मैंने स्वयं मुंबई मेट्रो लाइन-3 (एक्वा लाइन) से विधानभवन से धारावी तक का सफर तय किया। वर्तमान में वैश्विक भू-राजनीतिक तनाव के चलते कच्चे तेल की आपूर्ति… pic.twitter.com/7xanTntBlP
— Ramdas Athawale (@RamdasAthawale) May 12, 2026
The Republican Party of India chief also praised the metro infrastructure and said the experience reflected India’s growing urban transport capabilities.
The public outreach by BJP leaders comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to voluntarily reduce petrol and diesel consumption in view of global energy uncertainty caused by tensions and conflict in West Asia.
In his address on Sunday, Modi encouraged greater use of metro rail networks, electric vehicles, carpooling and work-from-home arrangements wherever possible.
The Prime Minister also advised people to reduce non-essential travel as part of a broader austerity and fuel conservation campaign aimed at lowering fuel imports and protecting foreign exchange reserves.
Government sources have indicated that the appeal is part of a larger push toward energy efficiency and economic resilience at a time when global crude oil markets remain volatile due to geopolitical tensions.
The decision by ministers and senior BJP leaders to use public transport is being viewed as both a symbolic endorsement of the Prime Minister’s appeal and an attempt to encourage behavioural change among urban commuters.
