Government says GPS, panic button in buses and taxis compulsory from April 1,2018

The panic button will alert both the transport department and police control rooms to take quick action, as and when pressed by the passenger, and the GPS will help in tracking public transport vehicles.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has ordered to install global positioning system (GPS) device and alert button in all taxis, buses and public transport vehicles from April 1,2018. The ministry fixed the deadline after the report emerged that most of the states are not implementing its order issued in this regard, according to a report in The Times of India .

On Wednesday, the union transport ministry tweeted that the passenger transport vehicles will have “to be mandatorily equipped with GPS devices” from April 1, 2018. There will be no extension to the deadline, a senior official told ToI.

MORTHINDIA
✔@MORTHIndia
From 1st April, 2018, the passenger transport vehicles including taxis and buses are to be mandatorily equipped with GPS devices. @nitin_gadkari @PMOIndia @transform_ind
#TransformingIndia
11:25 AM – Jan 17, 2018
The order is not applicable on three-wheelers including e-rickshaw since they are open, said the official adding that passenger safety measures are more required in closed structure. The panic button will alert both the transport department and police control rooms to take quick action, as and when pressed by the passenger, and the GPS will help in tracking public transport vehicles.