Step to make travel safer for women

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 14

In a step that could go a long way in making travel safe for women, the Transport Department will install vehicles location tracking device (VLTD) in vehicles.

This was disclosed by Transport Minister Bikram Singh while reviewing the works of Transport Department and Rope-Way and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation here yesterday. He directed the officers to make public services smooth, simple, easy and convenient.

“The proposed VLTD system envisages enhancing safety of women and girls by equipping all the public passenger transport vehicles with locations tracking device and emergency buttons for raising and alert in case of emergency,” the minister revealed. A provision of Rs 10.40 crore has been made to implement this system by the Centre,” he added.

Mobile Automated Testing Stations (ATS) would also be opened by the Transport Department in the state for checking vehicles and Rs. 6.5 crores would be spent for each ATS, he added. He said that fully automated transport barriers would also be set up at Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb at a cost of Rs 4 crore each.

He said the Transport Department had taken ambitious steps to realize the Swarnim Himachal vision of the state government. “The public services being provided by the department have been made online to make them timely and efficient,” he stated.

Bikram Singh said new e-Parivahan Vayastha was being started by the Transport Department to make public services available online. “This system has been started on a pilot basis in Shimla and Dharamsala, under which services like payment of token tax, SRT, no objection certificate, vehicle fitness certificate, application for permit, driving license related services, book special registration mark, pay national permit authorisation fee, book appointment for fitness are being provided,” he elaborated.

The minister reviewed various ropeway and water transport projects and directed the officers to complete them in a time-bound manner.