The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made fitment of Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) device and panic buttons mandatory for certain type of vehicles.
Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) device and panic buttons will be installed in buses and other public transport vehicles, source said.
As per reports, all the commercial vehicles (with yellow registration number plates) including passenger buses, mini-buses, school buses and cabs/taxis will compulsorily be equipped with the VLT gadgets for the safety of women and children.
The women passengers in distress can press the emergency buttons near their seats. As soon as the panic button is pressed, it will send an emergency signal to the command and control centre (CCC), post which the vehicle will be tracked and necessary assistance will be provided, the reports said adding that the command centre would be set up in Bhubaneswar soon.
In a notification issued by the Commerce and Transport Department, Odisha government has said, “As per the directions issued by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India vide Notification No. S.O. 5454 (E) dated 25.10.2018, the requirements specified under rule 125H of CMVR, 1989, sub-rule 5 of rule 90 of CMVR, 1989 and sub-rule 1 of Rule 129 of CMVR, 1989 Government have been pleased to make it mandatory for fitment of Vehicle Location Tracking Device and Panic buttons for the vehicle as specified under the aforesaid rules of CMVR, 1989.”
Accordingly the specified vehicles registered on or after 01.01.2023 shall have to comply with the requirement at the time of registration and the specified vehicles registered on or before 31.12.2022 shall have to comply with the requirement by 31.03.2023, the notification added.
As per official sources, the State Transport Commissioner will issue detailed guidelines and the process for fitment of VLT device and panic button.