As Narendra Modi pushes for austerity measures and reduced VIP convoys amid global economic uncertainty linked to the Iran war, Himanta Biswa Sarma is already operating with one of the leanest high-security convoys among Indian Chief Ministers.
Official sources said that despite being a Z Plus protectee, Sarma’s convoy within Guwahati consists of only six vehicles. Unlike many high-security political convoys seen across the country, his movement does not include separate ambulances or jammer vehicles.
Sources added that this is not merely a response to the recent call for fuel conservation and austerity. Following the Prime Minister’s appeal for lower fuel consumption, smaller convoys, increased use of electric vehicles, and cost-cutting measures amid rising global oil prices linked to the West Asia crisis, Sarma has already been consciously following this minimal convoy model for the past five years.
Officials familiar with the Chief Minister’s movement said he has continued maintaining the compact convoy structure even after assuming office for a second consecutive term. The convoy has been designed to remain operationally efficient while avoiding unnecessary vehicle deployment.
However, convoy size usually increases when the Chief Minister travels outside Guwahati, as district administration officials, police officers, and departmental teams join the movement during field visits and review meetings.
To address this, the Assam Chief Minister is now considering introducing a caravan-style official vehicle for district tours. According to sources, the proposal aims to accommodate district officials, senior bureaucrats, and key officers in one larger vehicle along with the Chief Minister during inter-district travel.
Officials said the new system is intended to reduce the number of accompanying vehicles while also improving governance efficiency. Travel time could be used for administrative discussions, project reviews, and coordination meetings, helping save both time and resources.
The proposal aligns with the Centre’s broader austerity drive and could become a model for reducing VIP movement expenditure without affecting administrative coordination or security arrangements.
The move also reflects a growing trend among Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments to visibly project administrative minimalism and fuel-saving measures following the Prime Minister’s appeal for economic prudence.
