Days after giving a clarion call for adopting austerity measures, including avoiding travelling in personal vehicles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, guarded by the elite Special Protection Group (SPG), on Wednesday was seen zipping through the streets of the national capital in a convoy of two cars. PM’s cabinet colleagues and State Chief Ministers and others too followed suit, significantly reducing their individual cavalcades to a minimum of four vehicles which also includes SUVs carrying arms wielding commandos.
Modi, who faces high threat perception, was travelling in an armoured Range Rover, with a Toyota Fortuner escort, filled with SPG security officials, following him closely on the streets. Traditionally, the PM cavalcade has more than a dozen vehicles to accommodate security, jammers and an ambulance but the size has been significantly curtailed to set an example for VVIP protectees. The previous convoy has been a mix of Mercedes-Maybach, Range Rover, BMWs and Toyota Fortuners.
The downsizing of the Modi’s cavalcade, however, has been done keeping in mind that the move is not out of sync with SPG’s manual on PM protection, sources said.
Lead by example
After his May 10 speech in Hyderabad, where he appealed to citizens to adopt a series of austerity measures in view of West Asia crisis, which has raised global oil prices and escalated pressure on foreign exchange, Modi’s convoy size was cut in his subsequent trips to Gujarat and Assam.
It is learnt that the PM also sought the induction of electric vehicles into his convoy, wherever possible, without making new purchases.
Giving into the PM’s national call, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too has reduced the number of vehicles in his cavalcade to 4 and sources said that he has directed his office to further reduce the size to make his travel economical.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah too followed with significant reduction from nearly a dozen vehicles which would form part of his convoy. Officials, however, stated that all essential vehicles mandated under the Central Reserve Police Force’s ‘Z+’ security protocol remained in place.
The directive is part of a broader effort to promote minimalism in governance and ensure better allocation of public resources.
Taking a cue, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the fleet of vehicles accompanying the Chief Minister and ministers, and urged people to cut fuel consumption and avoid unnecessary gold purchases in view of the prevailing global situation.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced that he will use a minimum number of vehicles for his convoy and asked his ministerial colleagues to do the same.
Published on May 13, 2026