STA Makes Location Tracking Device, Panic Button Mandatory from Oct 1

Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority (STA) has made it mandatory for all vehicles with the exception of two-wheelers, rickshaws, and three-wheelers, be fitted with a Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) and a Panic Button.

The STA has released a notification on the fitting of these devices, which is required to begin on October 1.

“Sub-rules 5 of Rule 90 and Sub-rule 1 of Rule 129 of CMVR, 1989 have been made mandatory pursuant to directions from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, as stated in Commerce & Transport (Transport) Department Notification No. TRN-LCMISC-0001-201/81541T dated 17.07.2023. The objective of this project is to track and monitor the vehicles plying on the roads and to ensure the passenger safety, especially the women and child passengers,” the STA said.

Vehicles such as passenger buses, school buses, luxury cabs, maxi cabs, motor cabs, omni buses, private service vehicles, goods carriage vehicles operating on national permits, vehicles carrying hazardous and explosive materials, and ambulances must have the vehicle location tracking device and the panic button, the STA added.