The government will issue a notification on 2 June to make panic buttons mandatory in public buses to ensure women’s safety, announced Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on 25 May.
The move was triggered by the mounting number of cases of violence against women in public buses and will make it compulsory for buses to install emergency buttons, CCTV cameras and vehicle tracking devices to ensure the safety of women commuters.
A pilot project under which Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation will run 10 luxury and 10 ordinary buses, were fitted with emergency buttons and CCTV cameras.
The minister said that they are looking at the installation of the features at the manufacturing stage itself to reduce costs.
To ensure 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 devicesNitin Gadkari, Road Transport and Highways Minister
CCTV, GPS, Emergency Buttons Included in Features
The ministry had issued these draft rules earlier this month under the Motor Vehicles Act and had sought comments from vehicle manufacturers.
Under the proposed notification, transport vehicles with a seating capacity of over 23 passengers will have CCTV cameras.
The plans indicate that in case of any untoward event a woman passenger would be able to press the emergency button which will alert the nearest local police station.
An emergency signal will also send live footage of the bus to the control room. If a vehicle deviates from the prescribed route, the system will signal the control room.
(With PTI inputs.)