Hyderabad: The use of beacons is governed by rules framed by general administration department. These rules are framed in accordance with the State Motor Vehicle Rule No. 313.
This rule states that usage of red beacons are allowed for vehicles carrying carrying the Governor or those escorting it, the vehicles carrying the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Chief Justice, Judges of the High Court, Lokayukta, Chairman of the State Administrative Tribunal, vice-chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal, vice-chairman, State Administrative Tri-bunal and Chairman, TS Public Service Commission. There are restrictions on the use of blue lights atop vehicles.
As per rule, no vehicle can have a blue light in respect of carrying the Chief Minister, ministers, chairman, Planning and Development Committees, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council.
As per GAD list, the Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet ministers, ministers of state, Speaker, leader of opposition, Chief Justice and judges of the High court, chief secretary, principal secretary and secretary to CM, principal secretary (GAD) are authorized to have red beacon with flasher and siren, apart from prominent dignitaries from the Centre and other states visiting the state.
This rule remains on paper with several ineligible using beacons in violation of norms.
A GAD official said, “We have received 175 complaints on illegal usage of beacons since the formation of the state. We forward these complaints to transport and traffic police departments We only issue guidelines on who are eligible to use the lights.”
The violators include chairpersons of corporations, MLAs and MLCs in respective constituencies though they don’t use it in the capital city.
A Hyderabad traffic police officer said clearance was given to the Governor and the Chief Minister, for reasons of security. They said they conduct periodic raids to check ineligible beacon users and impose penalty on them, if caught.
