Odisha Govt Makes Safety Devices Mandatory For Public Transport Vehicles From This Date

Bhubaneswar: In order to ensure safety of passengers travelling in public transports, the Odisha government has made the vehicle location tracking device (VLTD) mandatory from October 1.

State transport commissioner in a public notice on Thursday said all vehicles meant for public transport must be fitted with VLTD and panic button before registration from October 1. The Transport department has taken the step to ensure security of the passengers, particularly women and children, travelling in such vehicles.

The passenger buses, school and college buses, ambulances, cabs, omni-buses, private service vehicles and goods vehicles with national permit come under this provision. However, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and rickshaws are exempted from the order.

Releasing the schedule of installing the devices, the commissioner said new vehicles purchased before October 1 must have these devices before registration. Similarly, the vehicles registered before September 30 must have the safety devices before December 31.

The vehicles, which fail to instal the devices within the deadline, will face cancellation of fitness certificate, change of ownership and road permits, the notice warned.

The commissioner has advised the vehicle owners can instal the safety devices from among the authorised dealers who have been enlisted in the official website of the Transport department. They can also avail the facility at Retro Fitment Centres in their localities. But the devices must be approved by the state government, the notice stated.