NEW DELHI: In what could signify an end to the VVIP culture in India, no high dignitaries, including the President and the Prime Minister will be allowed to have red beacon on their vehicles from May 1, Finance Minister Arun jaitley said today.
Making the announcement at a press conference, Mr Jaitley said,”The Prime Minister informed the Cabinet that some amendments to the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 were being made . These amendments will come into effect from May 1.
”Under rule 108(I)(II) of the act, the state governments and the Central Government can name any dignitaries who can have red, white and blue beacons on their vehicles, The Centre has decided to remove this rule altogether.
This means that henceforth the Centre and the stater governments cannot nominate any dignitary to carry red beacon on their vehicle from May 1.”
Mr Jaitley said that as per an amendments in rule 108(2) of the act, the beacons — the blue flasher — will be allowed only on emergency service vehicles belonging to the fire service, police, army and ambulances, to ensure passage through traffic.
The decision to do away with red beacons will extend to the Vice-President, the Chief Justice of India, Union ministers, chief ministers, state cabinet ministers, bureaucrats and judges of the high court and Supreme Court. Recently Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Yogi Adityanath and Amarinder Singh decided to do away with the use of the red beacon on their official cars. (Agencies)