Using red beacon light is necessity, says Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar

Two days after courting a controversy over use of red beacon on her official car, Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar reiterated her stand over the issue and said that a red beacon is necessary as her official position is equal to a "state minister".

"Mumbai is an industrial city that has an annual budget of more than Rs 30000 crores. Beside being a Mayor, I have the status of a state Minister. Therefore, I had opined that the use of a red beacon (fitted car) is a necessity," she said addressing her first press conference here today, three days after assuming the post.

"My predecessor Sunil Prabhu had written a letter to the Chief Minister asking him to allow the mayor to use a red beacon on his official car. I am only carrying forward his legacy," she said.

When pointed out that Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan himself does not use a red beacon, an evasive Ambekar stuttered with her comments. "I am not insisting that there should be a red beacon. But Mumbaikars should themselves feel the need for the Mayor to use a red beacon... whenever a VIP comes to the city, the Mayor goes to receive him as a representative of the people," she said.

The first time Shiv Sena corporator said that her priority will be to call out to the corporates to donate funds to the Mayor's funds.

"We receive many applications to help out people suffering from terminal illnesses. But the Mayor's fund is not capable to help each one of them. We will therefore invite corporates to donate money to the Mayor's fund so that such patients can be treated free of cost," she said.

Ambekar (42) said that efforts will be made to fill the nearly 20,000 posts that are lying vacant under the OBC category in the MCGM.

"There is a vacancy of nearly 20,000 posts in various departments (in MCGM) which needs to be filled. We will spare no efforts to fill up the positions," she said.