Naveen directs to remove red beacons

Bhubaneswar: Following the decision of union government, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday ordered removal of red beacons from the cars of all VVIPs in the state with immediate effect.

Patnaik also took the red beacon off his official car.

Narendra Modi in its decision on Wednesday stripped the ‘Lal Batti’ or the red beacon atop the vehicles of VIPs and VVIPs with effect from May 1.

“The Chief Minister returned to his residence from the state secretariat after removing the red beacon from his official vehicle,” a communication received from the Chief Minister’s Office said.

Last month, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra had stopped using the red beacon on his official vehicle.

The Union Cabinet has decided that beacon lights will be removed from all vehicles, except emergency vehicles, like ambulances and fire brigade.