Soon, safety system in private, public buses

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 25

Following the Banjar accident in which 45 innocent lives were lost, the state Transport Department has decided to install integrated automated passenger safety system in both private and public buses to check overloading and overspeeding. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 40 crore.

Alarms and global positioning system will be installed in all buses to track the location of vehicles.

Talking to The Tribune, Principal Secretary, Transport, Jagdish C Sharma said, “Regional transport offices (RTOs) will get real-time information on the number of passengers on board a bus through the alarm and GPS system. Speed governor will provide information on its speed. Those who violate norms will be caught and penalised there and then.”

He said a software for the system was being developed and it would be ready for implementation within six months.To check the fitness of buses, an automated testing system would be set up. Vehicles that failed the test would not be allowed to ply on roads and their permits would be cancelled, he said. “More than 95 per cent fatalities in road accidents are caused by human error, overloading, overspeeding and bad roads. Most road accidents can be prevented,” said officials.

They said if required, the government was ready to amend norms for private buses. “We will start fitness programme for drivers as well. There will be zero tolerance for traffic rule violations,” said Sharma.