UP: Yogi's latest advice to ministers regarding use of red beacons atop their vehicles

Reportedly, UP CM Yogi Adityanath has allowed his ministers to use red beacons but with riders. (Image: AP/File)

New Delhi: Punjab got rid of red beacons but Uttar Pradesh will have to live with them; the red beacons on top of cars that are considered the ultimate status symbol. Reportedly, UP CM Yogi Adityanath has allowed his ministers to use red beacons but with riders. On their cars, ministers can use laal batti but they have to give up the hooters and sirens. Yogi has urged all his ministerial colleagues to shun siren and hooters as they create noise pollution, informed cabinet minister Siddhartha Nath Singh to media. However, cabinet minister made it clear that the red beacons would stay. This has ended the speculation that CM Adityanath would, like Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, make his ministers sacrifice the red beacons. Uma Bharti's take on red beacons: Interestingly, Union Minister Uma Bharti was among those who recently spoke in favour of letting ministers retain the red beacons. There would be more problems and accidents if official vehicles of ministers did not have the red beacon, she said and added that the government would get delayed if ministers weren't able to use beacons and had to spend more time on the roads. Are hooters and sirens legal? Interestingly, as per law, hooters and sirens are illegal. As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, that spells out what is legal on India's roads and what is not, only permits emergency vehicles such as an ambulance, police and fire engines and heavy construction vehicles to use hooters. The central rules do not allow states to exempt anyone from this rule but policemen rarely penalise government or ministerial vehicles that frequently flout this provision. Pan India: List of Dignitaries of Indian Government who are allowed the use of the beacon

• Red beacon (with flasher)

President Vice-President Prime Minister Chief Justice of India (CJI) Speaker of the Lok Sabha Deputy Prime Minister Justices of the Supreme Court Governors Chief Ministers Chief Justice of High courts Justices of the High courts Cabinet Ministers of the Union University vice-chancellors Deputy Chairman, NITI Aayog (Formerly Planning Commission) Chief Election Commissioner Comptroller and Auditor General of India Chairman of Commissions holding equal rank to cabinet ministers.

• Red beacon [without flasher]

Cabinet Secretary of India Leader of opposition party in Rajya sabha and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha Ministers of the State of the Union Attorney General of India Members of the Parliament Secretaries and Spl Secretaries to the Government of India Chiefs of Staff of the three services holding the rank of General or equivalent rank Deputy Ministers of the Union Officiating Chiefs of Staff of the three services holding the rank of Lt. General or equivalent rank Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal