Final notification, which is awaited, will clarify if there will be exceptions to the decision
While the ban on red beacons on VIP cars comes into effect from May 1, the final notification on the subject had not arrived at the state transport department even until as late as Sunday evening. The final notification will provide clarity on whether the ban will be a blanket one or there would be exceptions made for certain dignitaries like governors, chief ministers, and judges.
Speaking to DNA, Praveen Gedam, Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra, said, "Our regular flying squads and traffic police will implement the rule on the ground."
Maharashtra's Transport Department has 63 flying squads with an average of 2 people in each, who look into a total of about 50 categories of traffic offences. These squads collect about Rs 80 lakh in fines every day across Maharashtra. Traffic cops have 3,300 personnel in Mumbai but have the general rashness on the roads to deal with.
Officials expressed confidence that the ban wouldn't be difficult to implement since it is a blanket one and the violations of unauthorised vehicles using red beacon is not a huge problem, unlike that of vehicles sporting black film-tinted windows. The ban on black film-tinted car windows, ordered by the Supreme Court in April 2012, has made exceptions for some people in the name of security and that poses a problem, said officials on condition of anonymity.
Moreover, officials said, with the ban on red beacons being announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19, there was more than enough time for the red beacons to be removed. "The issue was so well-publicised that no one can give an excuse saying he or she didn't know about it," said an official.
Only police vehicles, ambulances, and fire-fighting vehicles would be allowed to sport beacons, though the colour will change from amber and purple to blue.
Speaking to DNA, Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of police (traffic) said that a mechanism to implement the ban is in place. "We are looking at voluntary compliance, but a drive will start once we assess the situation on Monday," he said.
MEN AT WORK
- Maharashtra’s Transport Department has 63 flying squads with an average of two people in each
- The squads look into 50 categories of offences and collect about Rs 80L in fines daily across the state
- Traffic cops have 3,300 personnel in Mumbai but have general rashness on the roads to deal with
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