Bengal cuts down use of red beacon for VIPs

Kolkata, June 19 (IANS) In compliance with the Supreme Court's ruling on red beacons, the West Bengal government Thursday imposed restrictions on officials of various categories to bring down by more than 80 percent the use of such flashers in the city.

Only dignitaries belonging to seven categories, including the governor, chief minister, chief justice of High Court, leader of opposition, are eligible to display flashing red beacons atop their vehicles.

The rest, like vice chancellors of recognised universities and mayors, are entitled to blue lights sans flasher.

"Mayors can use blue beacon but no flasher. Vice chancellors of recognised universities also only blue beacon, not flasher."

"Principal secretaries, secretaries, divisional commissioners, vigilance commissioners, director general of police, inspector general of police and district magistrates (DM) and superintendent police (SP) can only use blue beacon," state Transport Minister Madan Mitra told reporters here.

Dignitaries visiting from other states will have to adhere to the blue light option as well, he said.

"In summation, we can say that illegal use of red light will go down by more than 80 percent as per the directive," he said.