UT restricts red beacon atop official vehicles

Following the directions of the Supreme Court, the Chandigarh administration has restricted the use of red beacon on official vehicles to five senior officials.

Following the directions of the Supreme Court, the Chandigarh administration has restricted the use of red beacon on official vehicles to five senior officials.

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With new rules coming into force, UT adviser, home secretary, finance secretary, mayor and inspector general of police have been authorised to use red light on their vehicles.

Earlier, all IAS and IPS officers were allowed to put up red beacon on their vehicles.

Civil officers, who are responsible for maintenance of law and order, deputy commissioner, additional deputy commissioner, sub-divisional magistrate have been allowed use of blue beacon. Any other official deployed as duty magistrate for law and order duty will be authorised to use blue beacon on the day of duty.

Besides, all police vehicles assigned duties of emergency or quick response, escorts, pilots, law and order as well as police vehicles requiring unhindered access to the road for performance of their duty, including vehicles of traffic police, police control room and ambulances, are also allowed to use blue beacon.

Meanwhile, repair vans of electricity department which are responsible for the maintenance of the automatic traffic control lights and electricity supply to the three major hospitals - PGIMER, GMSH-16, GMCH-32 - and fire tenders are also allowed to use orange beacon.

Those found violating the new rules will be liable for strict action as per the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and rules framed there under.