Transport, Highway & Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday presented 20 buses of the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation under the NIRBHAYA scheme to provide safe and secure transport to women, with IT-enabled safety measures to the public, at a function in the national capital.
The 20 buses included 10 luxury and 10 general buses fitted with Vehicle Tracking System, CCTV cameras and panic buttons on every seat to provide immediate help to women passengers in distress.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said certain unfortunate incidents in the recent past have forced his ministry to take this step, so that women travelling in buses feel safe. He shared that the CCTV cameras, the Vehicle
Tracking System and especially the panic buttons will enable the police to know the exact location of the bus and will provide prompt assistance. The minister also said that efforts would be made to ensure that the scheme is extended to other buses and other states as well in due course. He added buses in future should be manufactured along with these features. Gadkari said that these measures will keep anti-social elements under check.
The ministry will issue a notification after June 2, 2016, making it mandatory for public vehicles with seating capacity of 23 or above to have CCTV camera, Vehicle Location Tracking Device and panic buttons. Those with seating capacity of less than 23 will be required to have Vehicle Tracking Device and emergency buttons. A draft notification has already been issued in this regard.
The Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, who was also present during the function, thanked the Rajasthan Government for the initiative. She said the initiative would also help prevent as well as rescue children, who get kidnapped. She expressed her desire that this system should be extended to trains also.
