Responding to the national push for cleaner energy and sustainable transportation, the Odisha government on Wednesday adopted major eco-friendly initiatives at Lok Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
As part of the green transition, only electric vehicles (EVs) will now be used in the official convoy of Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.
The move comes following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated appeal to citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption in order to strengthen India’s economy and reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
Lok Bhavan Becomes Net-Zero Campus
In another significant development, Lok Bhavan has fully shifted towards solar energy-based operations with the installation of a 500-kilowatt rooftop solar power system.
Officials said the solar initiative is aimed at promoting renewable energy usage while reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources. The project is also expected to help lower carbon emissions and operational energy costs.
The newly installed infrastructure will additionally provide free charging facilities for electric vehicles, encouraging government employees and visitors to adopt sustainable mobility solutions.
Governor Highlights PM Modi’s Call
Speaking on the initiative, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said the state was responding to the Prime Minister’s national call for energy conservation and reduced petroleum dependence.
“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has issued a call to all the citizens of the country to take certain measures to strengthen the economy of the country. Firstly, to preserve the usage of petroleum products, he advised shifting to electric vehicles instead of those run by petrol and diesel, so that crude oil imports can be reduced and the country’s dependence on crude can be minimised,” the Governor said.
“Consequently, Lok Bhavan Odisha has taken steps to exclusively use electric vehicles in the Governor’s carcade. Additionally, Lok Bhavan has taken steps to establish a 500-kilowatt rooftop solar system to generate power for its own use, thereby making Lok Bhavan a net-zero campus,” he added.
Push Towards Sustainable Energy
Authorities described the initiative as a model project in Odisha’s transition towards clean energy adoption and environmental sustainability.
Experts believe wider use of electric vehicles and renewable energy can help reduce pollution, conserve foreign exchange reserves spent on crude oil imports and lower the financial burden caused by rising global fuel prices.
With Lok Bhavan adopting both electric mobility and solar-powered infrastructure, the initiative is expected to inspire other government institutions and public establishments across Odisha to embrace sustainable alternatives in the coming years.
