The Chandigarh Administration on Friday issued directions to all public service providers to install location tracking devices with panic buttons in all their vehicles. The administration, in its order said that anyone who fails to comply with the above rules will be fined from April 1 onward. According to data available with the state transport authority, there are around 5500 public service vehicles — maxi cabs, motor cabs, and buses in the city. Out of these, only 2100 have installed the safety device so far. The state transport authority had started the implementation of VLT and EA (vehicle location tracking and emergency alert) project in Chandigarh from June 30 last year. A Friday notification issued by Principal Secretary (Home) of Chandigarh administration, Nitin Yadav, stated, “All specified registered vehicles shall have to comply with the requirement before March 31 and all specified vehicles shall have to comply with the same at the time of registration of vehicles.” For new vehicles, the devices will be checked at the time of fitness check of vehicles and for old vehicles, owners have to get them installed from impaneled vendors under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In 2018, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the Motor Vehicle (Vehicle Location Tracking Device and Emergency Button) Order, and made it mandatory for all public service vehicles to be fitted with the location tracking device and emergency alert under Rule 125(H) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
