After the debate on the elimination of the VIP culture, the centre will now allow emergency vehicles on duty, including those of the police, defence and paramilitary forces, to use multi-coloured beacon lights having red, blue and white colours for maintaining law and order. The Union Cabinet had decided last month that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles from May 1, seeking to subdue the VIP culture in the country.
“The central government hereby specifies that the vehicles on office duty which are designated for the… emergency and disaster management duties may be allowed to use multi-coloured red, blue and white lights,” the road transport and highways ministry said in a notification. However, emergency vehicles, like ambulances and fire brigade will only be allowed to use them, the notification added.
Considering the emergency of such vehicles, the notification further read that vehicles pertaining to the duties relating to control of fire and the duties by police, defence forces or paramilitary forces for maintenance of law and order are allowed to use such lights. Additionally, duties relating to management of natural disaster or man-made disaster may use such lights.
“The multi-coloured light shall not be put to use when the vehicle is not on the designated duty,” the notification issued in pursuance of powers conferred on the Central government under sub-rule 4 of rule 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 said. The notification also added the each year, the transport department shall issue a public notice bringing to let the general public know about the list of authorities to whom the permission to use the vehicles specified.
Vehicles, which are allowed to use the beacon, will display on their widescreen the sticker issued by the transport department of the concerned state or union territory which shall include details like the state government or union territory, designation of the officer and vehicle number.
