In December 2023, the state government issued an order requiring the installation of VLTD and emergency buttons in all public transportation and in allowed cargo vehicles nationwide to enhance passenger safety. |Picture source: File Photo
To cope with increasing concerns about fail-safe systems in public transport and trucks, the Karnataka Transport Ministry has directed taxi owners, vehicle location tracking equipment (VLTD) and emergency panic buttons must always be fully functional and always easy to access.
The move comes after a series of complaints and viral social media videos in which the cab driver claims that the VLTD in his vehicle is not operating and is more strictly independent of the command and control centers of the department located in Shanthinagar. One such video shows a driver pressing the panic button without an obvious response from the authorities, which sparked a strong public outcry.
A senior Ministry of Transport official clarified the situation, saying the devices were either improperly installed or were not turned on, making them invalid. “In some vehicles, the wiring of the VLTD and the emergency button was found to be disconnected, while in others, the power supply of the system is inactive,” the official said. “This means that even if the button is pressed in an emergency, the signal will not reach the control room.”
Department officials said that once the panic button is pressed, the exact location of the vehicle is transmitted to the command center. From there, the alert will be sent to the jurisdiction police department to respond immediately. The official added that the department has investigated claims of non-functional devices and found that some of them were groundless or caused by installation errors.
In December 2023, the state government issued an order requiring the installation of VLTD and emergency buttons in all public transportation and in allowed cargo vehicles nationwide to enhance passenger safety. These devices are designed to track vehicles in real time and provide emergency assistance in case of distress.
However, compliance is inconsistent. Many vehicle operators believe financial difficulties and lack of understanding of regulations is the reason for non-compliance. Some drivers claim they paid up to Rs 15,000 for installing the system, but found it non-functional due to improper setup.
publishing – April 23, 2025 at 10:09 pm IST
