Odisha to study Kerala, Uttarakhand models on vehicle tracking system

BHUBANESWAR: The Government of Odisha has decided on sending a team of officials to Kerala and Uttarakhand to study the operating of vehicle location tracking systems in their public transport vehicles. Centre has been giving help from Nirbhaya fund to states to implement the project in public transport vehicles for the safety of women passengers. 

Sanjeeb Pandey, the state’s Transport Commissioner, said that they have decided to send their technical team and functionaries of Wipro, their consultant, to Kerala, Uttarkhand on Sunday, February 28, to see how these two states have adopted the project. Based on their study, Odisha government will prepare their plan of action and float the tender.

Transportation buses, mini-buses and cabs/taxis will mandatorily have equipped with the vehicle location tracking gadgets and panic buttons near the seats for protecting women commuters. Women in some trouble can press the emergency buttons and expect a quick response from the police. A control room is to be built to receive alerts from women travellers.  The planned project’s cost is around Rs 15.40 crore. The Centre and state are to share the cost of the project on a 60-40 per cent basis respectively.