Hyderabad: Soon, all transportation vehicles in Hyderabad, including those plying to destinations in other states, will be fitted with vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs).
The new system, being rolled out by the Telangana State Road Transport Authority (RTA), will closely monitor the movement of around two lakh private travel buses, cabs, taxis, and national permit vehicles operating from the city. A panic button will also be installed in the vehicles, in a move meant to ensure safety of women passengers.
RTA sources said the decision has been taken in the wake of cases of sexual violence against women reported onboard private transport buses over the last year. Six months ago, a bus helper sexually assaulted a female passenger in a moving bus en route to Samarlakota in Kakinada district of neighbouring AP. In July 2024, in a case similar to the Nirbhaya incident in Delhi, two private bus drivers assaulted a 26-year-old woman on the outskirts of the city. The bus was going from Nirmal to Prakasam district via Hyderabad when the incident occurred.
“Therefore, we have suggested installation of panic buttons to improve women’s safety under the Nirbhaya Act. These panic buttons will be directly linked to the police control room and our centre for immediate response during emergencies,” said C Ramesh, joint transport commissioner. “These safety measures will be mandatory for all transport vehicles, including private buses, cabs, and taxis. The initiative aims to create a safer environment for female passengers travelling alone, especially during late hours,” he said.
Speaking about the tracking devices, RTA officials said it will be mandatory for existing and new transport vehicles. “We will discuss with agencies who supply VLTD devices to install them on vehicles and are awaiting approvals from the Centre to begin implementation. A monitoring facility will be set up at RTA’s headquarters in Khairatabad,” said an official.
“This centre will monitor vehicle movement, enabling swift response to emergencies and immediate alerting of police at their respective locations. Failure to comply with VLTD rules will lead to the impounding of vehicle and levying of penalties,” the official added.
Currently, states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Odisha have such a system in place. RTA said that it has sought financial assistance from both central and state administrations for the project.
BOX
In 2019, the ministry of road transport and highways issued a directive making it compulsory for all states to equip public service vehicles registered after 2019 with VLTDs and panic buttons. States were instructed to set up monitoring centres, with support from the central govt, to track public service vehicles. TSRTC has already implemented vehicle tracking systems across its 9,500-strong bus fleet.