Shortly after the Central government's decision to scrap red beacons for VVIPs vehicles, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh and many others have stopped using it with immediate effect.

"Maharashtra welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's step towards ending VIP culture by stopping the use of red beacon atop their vehicles. And to celebrate such an epic step for strengthening our democracy, I have stopped using the red beacon atop my car," Fadnavis, who removed the red beacon on his official vehicle while on a tour of Pune, said.

"I have stopped using the red beacon atop my car and all other ministers will also follow the suit shortly," Shivraj Singh said.  

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, BJP leader Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma and Minister of State Vijay Goel have also removed the red beacon from their vehicles after cabinet decision.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh got rid of red beacon years ahead of PM Modi's order.

The VIP culture of flaunting red beacons on official vehicles will be history from May 1, and there will be absolutely no exceptions, the government announced on Wednesday.

Vehicles involved in emergency and relief and rescue work, ambulances and fire service will, however, be allowed to use blue beacons.

This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.