Mumbai Police issues 'colour codes' to allow movement of selected vehicles during the curfew

CM Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra, on April 13, 2021, imposed a state-wide curfew with an aim to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, officials in Mumbai have noted an increase in the number of vehicles and it is said that private vehicles have led to congestion in many places across the city. This has been noted despite the state government's appeal to not leave the homes unless necessary. 

Hoping to control the same, Mumbai Police,  on Saturday, April 17, 2021, decided to take a new approach aiming to reduce the number of vehicles on the streets. As per the revised regulations, a 'colour code' has been made mandatory for private vehicles, and the same has been implemented from April 18, 2021.

Greater Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale, shared a video message announcing the implementation of the same, and said that as per Section 144, only vehicles with specific color codes will be allowed in Mumbai. These three color codes will be issued only for private vehicles which are used for transportation of essential goods, and other vehicles will not be allowed on the streets.

Moving out for essentials? Know your stickers-

Red-For medical services vehicles

Green-For eatables/food transport vehicles

Yellow-For vehicles of essential workers

W.e.f. 8pm on 18 Apr-7am on 1 May#EssentialStickers pic.twitter.com/Mr6eoSMxwx

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 17, 2021

The revised guidelines state that vehicles providing medical services will be given a red code, while vehicles carrying vegetables and food will have a green code. Meawhile, yellow code will be issued for the vehicles of the essential service personnel. 

Hemant Nagarale also clarified that action will be taken under section 419 if this color code is misused. Mumbai Police will be distributing these stickers to people in emergency services and will be issued at the local police station. It is said that those concerned with the same, should get them from the respective police stations. Meanwhile, the police have also stopped some vehicles and issued stickers on the spot.

This decision has been implemented to ensure people working in health and emergency services can now easily move around the city. To strengthen the same, main entry points in Mumbai, as well as other important places, will be blocked to check the colour codes, and vehicles without stickers will be held.