The Mizoram government has announced a series of austerity measures to conserve fuel and reduce expenditure amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. An official said the directives issued by the General Administration Department came into effect today following concerns over global instability and the Prime Minister’s appeal to maintain economic stability and cut fuel consumption.

Under the measures, every Wednesday will be observed as “No Official Vehicle Day,” with government employees encouraged to walk or use public transport instead of official vehicles. The government has also introduced work-from-home arrangements for 20 percent of employees, while essential services such as healthcare, emergency response, water and power supply, transport and law enforcement have been exempted.

Government offices will now function in staggered shifts to ease traffic congestion and save fuel. Twenty departments, including agriculture, education and power, will operate from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, while departments such as home, health and disaster management will function from 10:30 AM to 6 PM.

The government has also directed departments to prioritise video conferencing, minimise official travel, reduce vehicle convoys and adopt strict power-saving measures. Non-essential expenditure and celebratory functions have also been curtailed.