No ‘lal batti’ cars from May 1
Thursday, 20/04/2017
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=175850&boxid=65857&uid=&dat=2017-04-20
New Delhi : Thanks to the Union Government, come May 1, ‘lal batti’ cars or vehicles with red beacons will be a thing of the past. The Central government has barred their use by VVIPs, including the President, the Prime Minister and chief ministers. Seeking to end the VIP culture, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles, except emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire brigade.
The vehicles with beacon lights, which are seen as a symbol of VIP culture, ‘have no place in a democratic country,’ the government said. “After May 1, no one will be able to put red light atop his or her vehicle. Blue light will be used only for emergency vehicles in the country...Neither the states nor the Centre will have power to give any special permission for use of beacon lights,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after the Cabinet meeting.
He said the use of red beacons atop vehicles has been a matter of discussion and debates for long as to why certain people have special privileges on road. The matter was under discussion for some time and ‘the Prime Minister took the decision and informed the Cabinet,” Jaitley said, adding amendments will be made soon in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to give effect to the decision.
Key POINTS
There will be no exception for anyone.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was the first Union Minister who took the red beacon off his official vehicle.
The decision has been taken to strengthen ‘healthy democratic values’ in the country.
Exemptions ON THE CARDS
Beacons, however, will be allowed on vehicles concerning emergency and relief services, ambulance, fire service etc. In light of the decision, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will make necessary provisions in law.
Past IMPERFECT
In several states, even MLAs blatantly used beacon lights, while some of them had the practice of using detachable beacons. Now action will be taken as per provisions in the law. A detailed notification in this regard will be issued soon and there is no need for any amendment in the Motor Vehicles Act.
Amarinder hails Centre’s decision
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision to get rid of red beacons from all vehicles from May 1, saying it is a ‘healthy step that will further strengthen the country’s democratic fibre.’ “Such regressive symbolism promoted by the VIP culture that has prevailed in India for decades needs to be eliminated completely to make the authorities more accessible to the people and promote transparent governance,” he said here. Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said Punjab had emerged a clear trendsetter in this direction, having decided to do away with red beacons at the very first meeting of the Amarinder Singh’s Cabinet.
