To ensure the safety of women, the UP government is all set to equip 11,750 UP Roadways buses with GPS trackers and panic buttons. The vehicles to be upgraded with these facilities include both ordinary and AC buses. “The panic button will be helpful when there is an accident as it will be connected to ‘Dial 112’ while GPS will help track the accident site so that emergency services can be extended immediately,” an official said.
He said as soon as a passenger pressed the panic button following an accident, ‘Dial’ 112 would automatically come to know about it and would pass on the information to the control room of Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
Subsequently, the interceptors and officers of the corporation deployed on various routes would rush to the spot, the official said.
“The government will utilise Rs 15 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund to install these equipment in the buses to make women of the state feel safer on board. The GPS will allow officials at the control room to keep an eye on the buses round the clock,” the official said.
The UPSRTC board of directors has already given its nod to the proposal for the installation of these equipment in the buses. The tenders for the same will be issued on May 28 while the deadline for submitting the bids is June 11. The company winning the tender will set up its own command centre, connect it to Dial 112 and operate the facility. Earlier, the government had launched pink buses to ensure the safety of women.