Gadkari says mandatory for public buses to have panic button, safety measures: Report

In a notice to be issued by the government on June 2, details will be listed out regarding the safety measures

In a bid to ensure the safety of commuters, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said it will soon be mandatory to have a panic button and other safety features in public transport buses, reported The Indian Express on Thursday.

According to the report, public transport buses will also have CCTV cameras and tracking devices.

The government, the report added, will issue a notice on June 2, pointing out the safety measures to be taken in public transport buses.

“To ensure safety of women after the unfortunate Nirbhaya incident, we have decided to make it mandatory for public transport buses to install emergency panic buttons, CCTV cameras and GPS-enabled vehicle tracking devices,” the paper quoted Gadkari as saying.

Accompanied by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi and Rajasthan transport minister Yunus Khan, at an event at Bikaner House in New Delhi, Gadkari launched 20 Rajasthan government buses with these enhanced safety features, said the report. These 20 buses belong to a pilot project called 'Mahila Gaurav Express' that would run between Delhi and Rajasthan. The Rajasthan government, the report added, has planned to bring up 2,300 more of these buses.

When pressed, the panic button will send a signal to the depot chief manager’s phone at Jaipur Control room, the newspaper reported. Additionally, according to Indian Express, it will provide the chief manager with the coordinates of the vehicle, live video feed and would also alert the nearest police control room.

According to the report, to facilitate the investigation process, the CCTV footage will be stored for five years. In case of deviation from the scheduled route, the control room would get the coordinates of the vehicle, helping the officials to track it. The button is also connected to the government's women's helpline number.

Regarding the expenditure involved, the report said that the centre is paying half the amount required for the project. The first phase, according to the newspaper, will have 2,382 buses, while the next phase will cover all the 4,500 buses of Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation.

Gadkari said that the project will get assistance from the Nirbhaya Fund.