Public transport vehicles to become safer for passengers

The Transport Department in Himachal Pradesh is working to set up a monitoring cell and integrate it with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).  It can help provide a quick response to distress alerts public transport vehicles that are fitted with vehicle location tracking device (VLTD) and emergency buttons.  When a passenger presses the emergency button in a public transport vehicle, the monitoring cell will receive the alert and it will be passed on to the ERSS for immediate intervention.

In view of the increased safety for the women passengers, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued instructions for the installation of VLTDs and multiple emergency buttons in all public transport vehicles. Later, the directions were amended and only vehicles registered on and after January 1, 2019, were to be fitted with these devices.  HP can be the first state to integrate the monitoring cell with the ERSS and make the facility effective. According to the Additional Commissioner, Transport, Delhi Integrated Transit System will help the HP government to implement the project the estimated cost of which is Rs.10.40 crores.

VLTD device with add-on features can also send out speed violation and route violation alerts.