Delhi govt launches project to equip buses with panic alarm system

On the eve of International Womens Day, the Delhi government today launched a pilot project for equipping public buses with 'panic alarm system' to ensure safety of women passengers.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced that all buses in the national capital will have panic buttons by March 2019.
"Panic alarms in buses will add the third line of defence to ensure women safety in Delhi buses. Our government has already deployed bus marshalls in all DTC buses, and installed CCTVs in 200 DTC buses on pilot basis.
"By March 2019, we will be scaling up all these three initiatives to cover all DTC and Cluster buses thereby guaranteeing a safe and harassment-free bus ride for Delhis women, the minister said.

The pilot project for panic alarm system has been launched in five cluster buses of Rajghat-II depot, said an official.
The project has been implemented in collaboration with Bangalore-based NGO Project Durga.

As per the protocol of the system, upon hearing the alarm, the driver will take the bus to the left-most part of the road and bring it to stop. The conductor will be able to see exactly which location the alarm was pressed, and intervene in the situation.
If the situation cannot be addressed on the spot, the conductor will immediately call the Depot Manager, who will intimate PCR van, if necessary.

The panic alarm system will also be integrated with the bus GPS location, so that every time the alarm is pressed, the Depot Manager and Central Command Centre of cluster bus operations at DIMTS Kashmere Gate get an immediate alert, he added.