VIP beacons get red flag from government
Red beacons will be allowed only for emergency vehicles, said Road Minister Gadkari The Union Cabinet has decided to remove beacons atop all vehicles, including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from May 1. The government feels beacons are seen as symbols of a VIP culture that has no place in a democratic country. “It has been decided to do away with beacons of all kinds on top of all categories of vehicles in the country,” Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said after the Cabinet meeting. Beacons, however, would be allowed on vehicles employed in emergency and relief services like ambulances and fire tenders, an official statement said. Gadkari became the first VIP to remove the beacon from his car on Wednesday. "This government is a government of the masses and has decided to abolish the VIP culture of beacons and sirens," he said. According to Gadkari, this is the start of a healthy culture because sirens and beacons used to an...