Union Government made it mandatory to install GPS devices in public transport

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways made it mandatory for public transport vehicles running in major cities to install GPS. The announcement was made on 9 February 2014.

As per the directions of Union Ministry, All the owners of public transport are required to install Global Positioning System (GPS) by 20 February 2014. The project is a part of Nirbhaya Fund. The project involves setting up of closed circuit television (CCTV) and using global positioning system (GPS) to ensure safety and security of women and girls in distress.

In the first phase, the vehicles running in cities which had a population of more than 10 Lakh should install GPS facility. The road ministry had earlier asked passenger vehicle owners to install these devices by September 30, 2013.

About Nirbhaya Fund

The project was announced by Government of India in 2013 Union Budget.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved a 1405-crore rupees project in January 2013. The project aims to track and monitor public transport and provide alarm buttons for alerting authorities.

It will be implemented within two years after allocation of funds to set up a National Level Vehicle Security and Tracking System and City Command and Control Centre with installation of GPS, CCTV in public road transport.