WFH 2.0 in Gurgaon? Haryana wants companies to adopt work from home to beat traffic, save fuel
The initiative is expected to have a major impact on Gurgaon, one of India’s largest corporate hubs, where daily office commutes contribute significantly to traffic congestion across the city and the National Capital Region (NCR). Home to offices of many Fortune 500 firms and leading Indian companies, Millennium City attracts around five lakh vehicles daily from Delhi, Faridabad and other NCR cities. The city, where thousands of employees commute to offices every day, routinely faces serious traffic problems during rush hour.
According to a report by Times of India, the state has directed the industries department to work closely with leading industry associations, including Nasscom, CII and FICCI, to implement the scheme. Companies are encouraged to allow employees to work remotely wherever possible and implement flexible office schedules to spread out during peak traffic hours.
The move is an extension of austerity measures already introduced across government departments. These measures include limiting official vehicle use, reducing fuel consumption and encouraging virtual meetings instead of physical meetings.
Meanwhile, an advisory has been issued by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi addressing the ongoing global supply chain challenges linked to the conflict in West Asia. The cuts raised fuel prices and increased pressure on imports, prompting the government to look for ways to preserve resources.
Industry leaders largely welcomed the proposal. Foqal Analytics Chairman Nitin Sahini described the government’s approach as practical and beneficial.
He noted that knowledge-driven industries have already shown that hybrid and remote working models can reduce travel time and operational costs while maintaining productivity and customer service standards. He added that lower fuel consumption, less congestion and better air quality are among the key benefits. Şahini acknowledged that practice may vary across sectors, but said organizations that can offer flexible working arrangements should seriously consider doing so.
Employees also expressed their support for the initiative. Pramod Singh, who works in a multinational company, pointed out that businesses continued to operate effectively during the Covid-19 epidemic, where remote working became the norm.
According to Singh, work-from-home arrangements do not negatively impact productivity and can help both employees and employers save on commuting, office space and operational expenses.
Apart from consultancy to private companies, the Haryana government has introduced various cost-saving measures in its departments. The finance department has been instructed to reduce oil-related spending by 20% by September, while departments must report a minimum 10% reduction in vehicle usage each month. A dedicated tracking portal will also be launched to track compliance and savings.
The government also ordered a 50% discount on vehicles accompanying VIP convoys, subject to safety requirements, and imposed a temporary ban on the purchase of non-electric vehicles by government departments, boards, companies and commissions.
Citizens were also advised to adopt fuel-saving and energy-saving habits. While the government encourages the use of public transport, car sharing and electric vehicles, it also discourages unnecessary foreign travel and attendance at large gatherings.
Residents were asked to support local tourism, buy locally produced products and save energy both at home and at work. Hotels, restaurants and homes have been asked to prioritize the use of PNG and maintain air conditioning temperatures within specified limits.
The state also appealed to citizens to join the “Mera Bharat, Mera Yogdan” campaign, which promotes sustainable living, resource conservation and energy efficiency.
Officials confirmed that the directives have been circulated to all administrative departments, district authorities, universities, boards and corporations in Haryana for immediate implementation.
