“To ensure the safety of women after the unfortunate Nirbhaya incident, we have decided to make it mandatory for public transport buses to install emergency panic buttons, CCTV cameras and GPS-enabled vehicle tracking devices,” the Road Transport and Highways Minister said.
After launching a pilot project, under which the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation will run 10 luxury and 10 ordinary roadways buses fitted with emergency buttons and CCTV cameras, Gadkari said that a notification to have such devices in all public transport buses across the country would be issued on June 2.
“We are looking at installation of panic buttons, CCTV cameras and other devices at the manufacturing stage itself,” he said. Bulk purchase of such items would bring down the cost of the devices, he added.
The ministry had issued these draft rules earlier this month under the Motor Vehicles Act and had sought comments from all stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers.
Under the proposed notification, transport vehicles with a seating capacity of over 23 passengers will mandatorily have CCTV cameras that will be connected to the global positioning system and will be monitored by the local police control room.
Gadkari said in case of an untoward event a woman passenger would be able to press the emergency button, which would transfer the information to the nearest local police station via the GPS.
Once the emergency signal is triggered, the CCTV cameras will start displaying live footage of the bus at the central control room. Besides, if a vehicle deviates from its prescribed route (monitored through the GPS devices), the system will start sending signals tracking its movement to the control room. Once these initiatives are implemented, they will make women safer on roads, Gadkari said, adding that the need for the move was felt in the wake of the unfortunate Nirbhaya incident in December 2012.
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said the move would ensure the safety of women.
Minister of Transport for Rajasthan Yoonus Khan said the Centre had contributed 50 per cent of the funds for the pilot project.