Quickly, all transportation autos in Hyderabad, together with these plying to locations in different states, can be fitted with car location monitoring gadgets (VLTDs).
The brand new system, being rolled out by the Telangana State Street Transport Authority (RTA), will intently monitor the motion of round two lakh non-public journey buses, cabs, taxis, and nationwide allow autos working from town. A panic button may also be put in within the autos, in a transfer meant to make sure security of ladies passengers.
RTA sources stated the choice has been taken within the wake of circumstances of sexual violence towards girls reported onboard non-public transport buses over the past yr. Six months in the past, a bus helper sexually assaulted a feminine passenger in a transferring bus en path to Samarlakota in Kakinada district of neighbouring AP. In July 2024, in a case just like the Nirbhaya incident in Delhi, two non-public bus drivers assaulted a 26-year-old girl on the outskirts of town. The bus was going from Nirmal to Prakasam district by way of Hyderabad when the incident occurred.
“Subsequently, we’ve got advised set up of panic buttons to enhance girls’s security underneath the Nirbhaya Act. These panic buttons can be immediately linked to the police management room and our centre for fast response throughout emergencies,” stated C Ramesh, joint transport commissioner. “These security measures can be necessary for all transport autos, together with non-public buses, cabs, and taxis. The initiative goals to create a safer atmosphere for feminine passengers travelling alone, particularly late hours,” he stated.
RTA officers stated will probably be necessary for current and new transport autos. “We’ll talk about with businesses who provide VLTD gadgets to put in them on autos and are awaiting approvals from the Centre. A monitoring facility can be arrange at RTA’s headquarters in Khairatabad,” stated an official.
“This centre will monitor car motion, enabling swift response to emergencies and fast alerting of police at their respective areas. Failure to adjust to VLTD guidelines will result in the impounding of car and levying of penalties,” official stated.
At the moment, states comparable to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Odisha have such a system in place. RTA stated that it has sought monetary help from each central and state administrations for the venture.
2019 directive
The ministry of street transport and highways issued a directive in 2019 making it obligatory for all states to equip public service autos registered after 2019 with VLTDs and panic buttons.
States have been instructed to arrange monitoring centres, with help from the central govt, to trace public service autos.
TSRTC has already carried out car monitoring methods throughout its 9,500-strong bus fleet.
