Haryana: Tracking devices to be installed in vehicles for women’s safety

In a move to strengthen the safety of women and children in the state, the government has decided to equip all public transport vehicles in the state with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs). This decision was taken during a review meeting of the Transport Department held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

The Chief Minister directed officers to implement the scheme in a time-bound manner and set clear timelines. He emphasised that department-wise or district-wise targets should be set to ensure timely completion. He further directed the integration of this system with the emergency response service 112. This initiative is expected to be a milestone in establishing a safe transport system for women in the state.

The VLTD system has been developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under the Nirbhaya Framework. Its objective is to make the public transport system secure, transparent, and technologically enabled, offering real-time location data and emergency alert features. The CM also reviewed budget announcements and directed fast-tracking of the execution of these announcements.

Expressing concern over road accidents, Saini gave directions for conducting scientific studies to identify the causes. He directed a thorough investigation of each accident, including road conditions, speeding, stray animals, or any other factor, so that the shortcomings could be addressed to prevent such incidents in the future.

The CM also gave specific directions to monitor the fitness of school transport vehicles. He stated that all school buses must undergo regular inspections, with attention paid to their technical condition. He also directed that roadways drivers be required to submit medical certificates at regular intervals.