Beacon Row in Mumbai: BMC Removes Red-Blue Lights from Mayor Ritu Tawde’s Official Car

Mumbai: A controversy erupted in Mumbai after red and blue flashing beacon lights were spotted on the official vehicle of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to remove them on Saturday.

The issue gained attention after a social media post on the platform X questioned whether the mayor’s vehicle had permission to use police-style beacon lights. The post included photographs showing the flashing red and blue lights mounted on the front of the mayor’s official car.

The controversy intensified when RTI activist Anil Galgali formally raised the matter with the mayor through a written complaint. In his letter, Galgali pointed out that the use of such lights on government vehicles had been restricted under central government rules and urged immediate action.

According to civic officials, similar flashing lights had been installed not only on the mayor’s vehicle but also on the escort vehicle that accompanied it. The escort vehicle, reportedly carrying the mayor’s personal assistants and protocol officer, was also fitted with police-style lights.

Responding to the controversy, Mayor Ritu Tawde clarified that she had no interest in using a red beacon vehicle and described the issue as an administrative oversight. She stated that the responsibility lay with the administration that provided the vehicle.

“As mayor, I have no interest in a red beacon car. This is an administrative mistake. The administration should have checked what is permissible before assigning the vehicle,” Tawde said while responding to the criticism.

Following the controversy, officials from the BMC confirmed that the beacon lights had been removed from all concerned vehicles, including those assigned to the mayor, deputy mayor, and the leader of the house.

The issue also triggered political reactions. Former Mumbai mayor and Leader of Opposition Kishori Pednekar criticised the development, stating that it went against the central government’s move to eliminate VIP culture in the country.

Pednekar referred to the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 to abolish the use of red beacon lights on most government vehicles. The rule restricted such lights only to authorised emergency services such as police, ambulances and fire brigades.

Political leader Milind Narvekar also raised questions on social media, asking what exactly was happening around the newly elected mayor.

It is worth noting that the Central Government’s ban on red beacon lights, implemented on May 1, 2017, ended the long-standing VIP culture associated with flashing lights on official vehicles. Following that decision, the red beacon had previously been removed from the mayor’s car during the tenure of former mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.

With the latest action by the civic body, the BMC has now clarified that the use of such beacon lights on the mayor’s official vehicle was not authorised, and steps have been taken to ensure compliance with existing rules.