

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra transport department on Tuesday released a list of people who can officially use VIP lights and sirens and has also proposed to the Centre that fines be increased 50 times by amending the Motor Vehicle Rules .

The previous list was trimmed by 40% and a new category created to restrict the use of flashing red lights.

Principal secretary (state transport) Shailesh Sharma said the use of beacon lights, especially flashing red ones, will be restricted to VVIPs. "It can be used only by the governor, chief minister, deputy CM, council of ministers, chief justice of the high court, state legislative council chairman, Assembly speaker and leader of the Opposition in the legislature. Anyone else using it will be penalised," he warned.

The new category of "red light without flasher" will include sitting HC judges, deputy chairman of the legislative council, deputy speaker of the Assembly, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal secretary, state election commissioner, Mumbai's municipal commissioner, director general of police and others. The third category, "amber light without flasher", is for enforcement duties, besides district magistrates, commissioners of B-class corporations and fire-control vehicles among others. The fourth category comprises blinker-type red lights with purple glass for ambulances, blue light with flasher and multi-coloured light on vehicles for "emergency duties".

To prevent misuse, state transport commissioner V N More said he will issue stickers for vehicles enlisted to use beacons. "The stickers will compulsorily have to be pasted on the windscreen," he said.

Sources said the government has also sent a proposal to Centre, suggesting a hike in fines from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000 for misuse of beacons , and Rs 10,000 for a habitual offender.

The government move follows directives issued by the apex court. Hearing a special leave petition of lawyer-activist Abhay Singh versus the Uttar Pradesh government and others this year, the SC observed, "The use of beacons on vehicles, government or non-government, should be drastically restricted so that people's right to freedom of movement is not hindered in any manner whatsoever."

Categories

1. Flashing red light for governor, chief minister, deputy CM, council of ministers, HC chief justice, legislative council chairman, Assembly speaker and Opposition leader

2. Red light without flasher for sitting judges of the high court, deputy chairman of legislative council, deputy speaker of assembly, chief secretary, additional CS, principal secretary, state election commissioner, advocate general (high court), Lokayukta/Up-Lokayukta, mayor and commissioner of 'A' class municipal corporation, director general of police and few other officials

3. Amber light without flasher for divisional commissioners, district collectors, district magistrates, mayor and commissioners of 'B' class municipal corporations, sub-divisional magistrate, executive magistrate, enforcement vehicles of transport/excise, vehicles used to maintain law and order and fire-control vehicles of government and local self bodies

4. Blinker-type red light with purple glass for ambulances, blue light with flasher to escort dignitaries, multi-coloured red, blue and white light on vehicles designated by government for "emergency duties"

* The punishment for unauthorised use

The present fine under section 108 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules is Rs 100.

The state government has, however, suggested to Centre to amend the rules to increase the fine to Rs 5,000. For a repeated offender, the fine suggested is Rs 10,000.

