BMC Takes Action Against VIP Beacon Use in Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed red-and-blue beacons from the official vehicles of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, and Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar, all from the BJP. This decisive action follows significant controversy and public scrutiny over their unauthorized use, which violates the central government's 2017 ban on VIP beacons.
Controversy Erupts Over Beacon Installation
The issue gained traction on March 11 when a social media user, @shivsainik007, questioned on platform X whether the mayor's vehicle had proper authorization for police-style red-and-blue lights. The post included a photograph of Mayor Tawde's car prominently displaying the beacon. The matter escalated further when RTI activist Anil Galgali formally wrote to the mayor last Friday, strongly objecting to the beacon usage.
In his letter, Galgali stated: "It has been noticed that unauthorized use of red and blue lights is made on the official vehicle as well as the escort vehicle. As per the instructions issued by the central government, the use of such lights has been restricted and is permissible only for specific emergency services. This matter should be taken seriously and necessary action should be taken immediately."
Political Criticism and Response
The beacon usage drew sharp political criticism from opposition parties. Leader of the Opposition in BMC and former mayor Kishori Pednekar from Shiv Sena (UBT) emphasized that this practice directly contradicted the Centre's initiative to eliminate VIP culture. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar targeted Mayor Tawde on X, questioning: "VIP culture was ended by PM Narendra Modi and the central government, but the mayor of Mumbai could not resist the allure of VIP culture. Has the mayor become bigger than the PM and the CM?"
Following the growing outrage, Mayor Tawde described the situation as a "lapse by the civic administration," clarifying that the BMC provided the vehicle and she had no personal interest in using a beacon. She stated: "I have told the BMC commissioner that while providing an official vehicle to the mayor, the administration should have checked what was permissible. What is my mistake? I will use the vehicle provided to me, and if there were rules around it, they should have been followed." She added that she wasn't giving much weight to the opposition's criticism.
Defense from BJP Leaders
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Mayor Tawde, asserting that she should not be blamed for the incident. He explained to reporters: "The mayor cannot be blamed for this. Our earlier decision clearly states no one should use a red beacon and the mayor is fully aware of this. She is being targeted without reason, which is not right." Fadnavis noted that the beacon was mounted on the bonnet rather than the roof of the vehicle.
Ganesh Khankar, downplaying the controversy, told media: "The opposition cannot digest that BJP has been on work mode in BMC since Day 1. So, it is making an issue of such things. None of us demanded these beacons or any specific vehicle." A beacon on the mayor's escort vehicle, which typically carries personal assistants and the protocol officer, was also removed as part of the corrective measures.
Historical Context of Beacon Ban
In a significant move to end VIP culture, the central government implemented a comprehensive ban in 2017 on beacons for all vehicles, with exceptions only for those used in emergency services, law and order, and disaster management. This policy aimed to promote equality and reduce special privileges for public officials.
This incident echoes a similar case from October 2017 when, following the ban, the Tardeo Regional Transport Office issued a notice to a BMC executive engineer over the use of a red beacon by the official car of then Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar from Shiv Sena. The recurring nature of such violations highlights ongoing challenges in fully implementing the beacon ban across municipal administrations.
The BMC's swift action to remove the beacons demonstrates responsiveness to public concern and adherence to central government directives, though it raises questions about administrative oversight in vehicle provisioning for high-ranking officials.
