Indian city makes GPS and panic button in commercial vehicles mandatory
The Regional Transport Office (RTO), Pune, has made the installation of GPS and a panic button in commercial vehicles mandatory for their registration process. This follows the initiative of the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MORTH) which instructed RTOs across India to guarantee the fitting of these two devices in every commercial vehicle by December.
The two systems are expected to help improve safety and security of commuters, with around 200 000 vehicles affected by the new regulations. This news has not been received well universally, with local police seeking clarification and clearer directives.
“The regulation will be an additional burden on those who had purchased vehicles in March. In fact, many vehicles are still waiting to pass the fitness test. We are unaware of the new rule,” said Balasaheb Khedekar, president, Pune Luxury Bus Association.
