No flashing lights for VIPs in India

NEW DELHI: As of next month no Indian VIPs, including the president and prime minister, will be allowed to use a red beacon on top of their vehicles in order to ease their way through the traffic, officials said today.
The flashing lights have been the bane of commuters who have to wait while the government cars speed ahead, often causing further chaos in India's already congested cities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the decision, set to apply from May 1, at Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Transport Minister Nitin ­Gadkari said.
Beacons would be allowed only for emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire engines and police, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after the cabinet meeting.
"There will be no exception."
"These beacons are perceived symbols of a VIP culture that have no place in our new India," Gadkari said.
"The lights were often used as a show-off status symbols. Every Indian is special. Every Indian is a VIP," Modi posted on microblogging site Twitter.
There are some procedures the government would have to take before the new rules come into ­effect, Gadkari said.
Several ministers, including ­Gadkari, had beacons removed from their official vehicles straight after the cabinet meeting. – dpa