GPS to track minerals carrying trucks

The State Government has decided to introduce the GPS-based vehicle tracking system for minerals-carrying vehicles. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday cleared the proposal of the Department of Steel & Mines (DoSM).To streamline the regulation of minerals transportation and guard against illegal transportation, the DoSM had proposed a scientific model.

The proposal includes survey, mapping and geo-fencing of all the mines and destinations along with the permitted routes and prohibited areas for minerals transportation.All the mineral carrying vehicles are to be suitably equipped with the GPS devices by the vehicle owners. A web-based software is to be developed to monitor movement of vehicles along with the geo-fenced permitted routes through GPS devices installed in vehicles.

Software so developed will be integrated with i3MS and circle control centres to be manned in all the 14 mining circle offices to function along with the project implementation units already set up under i3MS.Since 2011, Odisha has taken lead in real-time monitoring as the DoSM has already put in place a 24x7 system called Integrated Mines and Mineral Management System (i3MS). The system also keeps a track of the ore mining process from scratch.

There have been several instances of hijacking of minerals-laden trucks in the past. Now, such crimes can be monitored and easily detected.Designing of GPS installation and integration with i3MS would be undertaken by the ORSAC, an agency under the Department of Science & Technology (DoST). The cost of the project would be around `5-6 crore. Accordingly, a technical team has been formed being headed by Director of Mines and comprising ORSAC Chief Executive and senior Department of Information Technology officials.