Govt. staff to work from home twice a week as Delhi unveils austerity plan

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced a slew of austerity and fuel-saving measures, including ‘work from home’ for government employees twice a week, staggered office timings, and a push for public transport under the 90-day ‘Mera Bharat, Mera Yogdan’ campaign.

Ms. Gupta said 50% of government meetings would now be conducted online. Colleges and universities in Delhi will be requested to hold non-practical classes, guest lectures, and administrative meetings virtually.

The Chief Minister said the campaign aims to involve both government institutions and citizens in building “a more self-reliant and resource-conscious India”.

The initiative focuses on fuel conservation, increased use of public transport, promotion of Made-in-India products, and responsible consumption practices, she said.

To facilitate the implementation of work-from-home measures, the Labour Department will establish a single-window help desk and coordinate with the Centre to resolve operational concerns. The Delhi government will also engage directly with major institutions and companies to encourage participation, Ms. Gupta said.

‘Metro Monday’

The Chief Minister said every Monday would now be observed as ‘Metro Monday’, under which Ministers and senior officials would be encouraged to use the Delhi Metro and other forms of public transport. To reduce traffic congestion, staggered office timings have also been introduced.

Delhi government offices will function from 10.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. while Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will operate from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Since Central government offices function from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., the revised timings are expected to ease peak-hour traffic across the city.

Ms. Gupta also appealed to citizens to observe a ‘No Vehicle Day’ every week by voluntarily avoiding the use of private vehicles. She said the Delhi government will not purchase any new petrol, diesel, CNG, or hybrid vehicles for the next six months.

The Chief Minister said Ministers and senior officers of the government will not undertake official foreign visits for the next one year. She also appealed to residents to voluntarily limit non-essential foreign travel. A verified list of Indian electronic and domestic products will be released to help consumers identify indigenous alternatives.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has proposed stronger integration between bus services and the metro network in Delhi to boost public transport usage amid concerns over rising crude oil prices due to the conflict in West Asia.

In an office memorandum sent to the Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday, the Ministry stressed the need for “prudent mobility and austerity measures” in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “economic self-defence” through reduced dependence on imported oil.