The Tripura government has introduced a five-day work week for state offices, declaring Saturdays and Sundays as official holidays. The decision was taken during a special meeting of ministers chaired by Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday and came into effect immediately.
New Office Timings
Cabinet spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury announced that office hours from Monday to Friday will now be from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. This replaces the earlier schedule of 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, which operated from Monday through Saturday, except on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Rationale Behind the Move
The state government stated that the move is aimed at reducing fuel consumption amid rising global crude oil prices and mounting economic pressure. Additionally, it is expected to lower electricity bills and other office expenses.
Additional Cost-Saving Measures
The cabinet also approved several other cost-saving steps, including conducting 75 percent of official meetings virtually and curbing large gatherings for political parties and government programmes. Chowdhury emphasized the government's promotion of electric vehicles and support for the rollout of charging stations.
Fuel Conservation Efforts
Chowdhury urged residents to reduce vehicle usage, cycle or walk for short distances, and use public transport for longer trips as part of fuel conservation efforts. Earlier, following the Prime Minister's address to the nation, the Chief Minister and other ministers had already reduced the size of their motorcades and cut travel in private vehicles with escorts.
