Public transport operators told to abide by Nov. 30, 2024; RTOs to act tough against erring vehicle owners

Mysore/Mysuru: The Central and State Governments, taking a tough stance on women’s security, especially after the Nirbhaya case (2012 Delhi bus gang rape and murder), have directed all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) not to issue Fitness Certificates (FC) to public transport vehicles which have not installed Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) and panic buttons.

Following public outrage across the country demanding enhanced measures for the safety and security of women, there was a persistent call to ensure safe journeys in public transport vehicles like taxis and cabs.

In response, the Central Government decided to incorporate modern technology to enhance the safety of women and children in public transport, similar to measures taken up in developed countries.

The installation of VLTDs and panic buttons was made mandatory from Dec. 1, 2023, for these categories of vehicles to prevent incidents of sexual harassment of women commuters. However, there has been little response from transport operators, even as the deadline to install VLTDs and panic buttons approaches on Nov. 30, 2024.

According to statistics from the State Transport Department, there are a total of 6,04,000 vehicles awaiting FCs and only 1,309 have complied with the order to install safety devices.

Currently, several hundred vehicles apply for FC daily, but most do so without the required safety apparatus. Owners remain indifferent to the rule, despite having five months left for the deadline.

Vehicle owners are requesting the RTO staff to consider their FC renewal applications on similar grounds. However, the RTO staff are wary of facing contempt of Government order if they honour these applications. Once the FC is issued, vehicle owners often prefer to ignore the requirement for at least a year, surpassing the November deadline.

To facilitate compliance, the Centre has set a price of Rs. 7,599 for the VLTD and panic button, with a stipulation not to pay any excess amount for these devices.

How do they function?

The panic button is a crucial safety feature for women and children travelling in public transport vehicles. If they feel unsafe or face any danger, pressing the panic button sends an alert message to a command centre.

The command centre can then immediately track the vehicle’s location, monitor the starting and ending points of the journey, and check whether the vehicle is on permitted routes or violating traffic rules.

The alert message is relayed to the jurisdictional Police, who use the available details to track the target vehicle. This feature enhances safety not only for women and children but also for men, who can sometimes be vulnerable to abduction in public transport vehicles.

We have to submit a report to the main office about the number of vehicles fitted with VLTD and panic buttons. However, most public transport operators have been reluctant to have the devices fitted, given the time available until the deadline. We are insisting that vehicle owners adhere to the instructions. While the latest model vehicles come with VLTD and panic button installed during manufacturing, older models lack this facility.” — Devika, RTO Mysuru West