Maharashtra has directed its ministers to obtain prior approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before using aircraft for official work.
The instruction comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity measures amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, with the state government aligning itself with the Centre’s push to cut avoidable expenditure and reduce fuel use.
Under the new arrangement, ministers cannot use state aircraft without clearance from the Chief Minister’s Office, though Fadnavis himself will continue to fly as needed for official commitments.
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महाराष्ट्र में अब सरकारी विमानों के उपयोग के लिए CM कार्यालय की अनुमति अनिवार्य कर दी गई है, ताकि अनावश्यक हवाई यात्राओं पर रोक लगे। https://t.co/Lt2NSKbkvR
मंत्री नितेश राणे ने विभागीय बैठकों को ऑनलाइन किया और EVs को प्राथमिकता दी। https://t.co/H8wttcy5DE
— ModiNama (मोदी का परिवार) (@ModiNama2024) May 12, 2026
Ministers told to seek CM nod before official air travel
Senior BJP leader and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed the directive, saying the chief minister had instructed that ministers “cannot use aircraft without his prior approval.”
He said he uses flights only for urgent work and about four or five times a year. Bawankule also said many ministerial meetings have already shifted online, reflecting the government’s broader attempt to reduce non-essential travel and adopt leaner administrative practices.
इलेक्ट्रिक बोटी आणि गाड्यांचा वापर करा; मंत्री नितेश राणेंचे आवाहन
सिंधुदुर्ग:पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी यांच्या नेतृत्वात देश महासत्तेकडे वाटचाल करत असताना, त्यांनी दिलेल्या आव्हानांना साथ देणे हे आपले कर्तव्य असल्याचे प्रतिपादन बंदर विकास मंत्री नितेश राणे यांनी केले. जगभरात… pic.twitter.com/MJcaymXGhm
— Goa News Hub (@goanewshub) May 12, 2026
Maharashtra departments begin shifting meetings online
The austerity push is being implemented beyond air travel as well.
Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane has directed departments under him to move meetings online and prioritise electric vehicles over petrol and diesel cars for official use.
The measures mirror Modi’s public appeal, made at a meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, to reduce petroleum consumption, use public transport, revive work-from-home and virtual meetings where possible, avoid non-essential foreign travel, cut gold purchases for a year and buy local.
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Austerity push follows PM Modi’s appeal to cut fuel use
Fadnavis is exempt from the restriction because of his packed schedule.
Bawankule said the chief minister is “very busy and has to reach multiple places on time,” which is why he continues to use aircraft more often than other ministers.
The directive has now begun filtering down through departments, signalling a stricter official travel discipline in the state government.
