New Delhi: The Union cabinet on Wednesday decided to put an end to the practice of using red beacons atop vehicles in the country. From 1 May, all government vehicles, including those ferrying the prime minister, chief ministers, central and state ministers, judges of the Supreme Court and high courts or any other VIP, will be barred from using them.
The government also decided to make amendments to the rules governing the use of blue beacons and said they can only be used by vehicles like ambulances, fire tenders and police cars, but only in cases of emergency as notified by the government.
At present, red beacons are installed in vehicles of dignitaries specified by central and state governments. Now, neither state nor central government can nominate any official to use one.
Minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari termed the move a historic and democratic decision. “This government is a government of common masses and thus we have decided to abolish the VIP culture of beacon lights and sirens,” he said.
