The Yogi Government is set to legalise ban on lal-batti culture by brining a legislation on abolition on use of red and blue beacon light.
Government spokesman and Health Minister Sidharthnath Singh said that Government will bring an amendment in the law to ban use of red and blue beacons on Government cars. This amendment will be okayed by the State Cabinet, probably in the next meeting, he told a group of reporters here on Friday.
“The ban will be enforced strictly. No one will be allowed to use red or blue beacons on their vehicles, except for the exempted people and vehicles,” he said. The Yogi Government is however silent on use of hooters as these are real nuisance.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives to end lal batti culture, the UP Government took a decision on Thursday night to ban the use of red beacons. However, essential services like fire brigade, ambulances, armed forces and police vehicles will be exempted from the ban.
“The police escorts with Ministers will have beacon light on their cars because sometimes Ministers are in a hurry and they got caught in traffic. Therefore, this exception has been given,” he said.
Adityanath had informed the Cabinet Ministers about the PM’s decision about ‘lal batti’ and suggested that the UP Ministers should follow suit. The Ministers agreed and themselves removed the red beacon from their official cars. Chief Minister has also decided to reduce the strength of escort vehicles and additional forces deployed for the security of VIPs. The decision had its impact immediately. Almost all the Ministers and bureaucrats removed blue and red beacon lights.
Chief Minister’s car too did not have red beacon and the number of his security vehicles were pruned too.