Requesting the Centre to advance the time zone in the eastern region, including office timings, Biju Janata Dal leader Bhartuhari Mahtab said the move could help save 2.7 billion units of electricity every year.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Mahtab said there was a gap of nearly two hours in sunrise timings between the eastern and western parts of the country.In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government had taken the suggestion “seriously” and was “pro-actively considering the issue.”