Meghalaya Government has come down heavily on the VIP culture in Meghalaya, tightening the screws on perceived misuse of sirens, tinted glasses, flashers, beacons and nameplates, signalling a firm pushback against entitlement on the roads. Addressing media persons after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma underscored that even the office of the Chief Minister has to write to the Transport Department and seek permission for using flashers on official vehicles.
The Chief Minister stressed that “the tinted glasses classes will be only for official vehicles of Z Plus and Z category protectees,” adding that a committee headed by the Principal Secretary will scrutinise exceptional cases.
On the usage of siren he clarified, “The siren can be used only by the vehicles of police, emergency services, pilot or escort vehicles of VVIPs and VIPs,” drawing a clear line on who is authorised to create urgency on public roads.
Explaining further, the CM reiterated that the privilege has been sharply narrowed. “Only the police vehicles, the pilot escorts of the VVIPs and VIPs can use siren. So it is limited to police, emergency services which obviously means ambulances and fire service and others,” he said, noting that any expansion of this list can only be authorised by the committee headed by the Principal Secretary.
On the contentious issue of lights and beacons, Sangma asserted that restrictions remain absolute. “The red light and beacons are not going to be allowed by anybody, because that’s the national law,” he said. Flashers too will be strictly regulated. “It will be only by the specific notification of the Transport Department. So only those who are notified by the Transport Department can use the flashers… even Chief Minister office also has to write and only then the permission will be given.”
The crackdown also extends to nameplates, with the Chief Minister making it unambiguous that the era of self-declared status symbols is over. “The State Transport Department from time to time will notify the list of persons who are entitled to use the name plates… you cannot just randomly put up name plates or flashers as you wish, you have to take specific permission,” he said, warning that misuse by individuals and organisations will no longer be tolerated.
On flagposts and the use of the national flag, he said the government will strictly adhere to “para 3.44 of the Flag Code of India 2002,” ensuring no deviation from the prescribed protocol.
It may be mentioned that Police in Ri-Bhoi district recently fined Tanzil Hussain, son of Assam Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, for misusing a flasher light on his vehicle — an incident that sharply spotlighted a pervasive culture of entitlement on the state’s roads. The SOP formulated by the Cabinet aims to clamp down on this VIP culture and restore order, accountability and fairness in public spaces across Meghalaya.
