Agartala: The Tripura govt has introduced a five-day work week for state offices, declaring Saturdays and Sundays as holidays.The decision was taken at a special ministers’ meeting chaired by CM Manik Saha on Monday and took effect immediately.Cabinet spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury said office hours from Monday to Friday will now be 9.30am to 6pm, replacing the earlier schedule of 10am to 5.30pm that ran Monday through Saturday, except on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays.The state govt said the move is aimed at cutting fuel consumption amid rising global crude oil prices and mounting economic pressure, while also reducing electricity bills and other office expenses.The cabinet also cleared additional cost-saving steps, including conducting 75 percent of official meetings virtually and curbing large gatherings for political parties and govt programmes.Chowdhury said the govt is promoting electric vehicles and supporting the rollout of charging stations.He urged residents to reduce vehicle use, cycle or walk for short distances, and use public transport for longer trips as part of fuel conservation efforts.Earlier, after the Prime Minister’s address to the nation, the CM and other ministers had reduced the size of their motorcades and cut travel in private vehicles with escorts.
