Patna: Public transport in Bihar is facing its strictest safety regulations yet, with the state government warning bus, auto, and taxi owners to install panic buttons and Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) by December 31, or face severe consequences.
Transport Minister Shrawon Kumar made it clear on Tuesday that vehicles lacking these devices will not be allowed on Bihar’s roads from January 1. Officials will begin a large-scale enforcement drive, and the fitness certificates of non-compliant vehicles will be revoked.
Speaking at a review meeting in Vishweshwaraiya Bhavan, he instructed district authorities to immediately activate VLTDs that are inactive or uncharged. Current figures indicate that out of 1,24,962 public service vehicles in the state, only 46% have functional tracking devices. Many of these devices remain uncharged, effectively active “only on paper,” according to the minister.
“No fitness certificate will be issued to vehicles without VLTDs,” Kumar emphasised. Written directives will be sent to all district transport offices to ensure compliance, with the department hoping that tighter enforcement will pressure vehicle owners to meet safety standards.
The meeting also highlighted the impact of the VLTDs: over the past five months, fines exceeding Rs 27 lakh have been levied for overspeeding detected through the devices. Despite this, the uptake of VLTDs and panic buttons has been slow, prompting the minister to warn that accountability will be fixed for negligent officials.
Kumar stressed that panic buttons are a crucial tool for women’s safety, allowing them to alert the transport department’s control room instantly in unsafe situations. VLTDs also monitor driving behaviour, including speeding and sudden braking, to prevent accidents.
The report revealed that compliance among permitted vehicles remains particularly low: only 1,036 vehicles, or two percent of the total, have installed the required tracking systems. Kumar warned that strict action would follow against both vehicle owners and officials who fail to implement the rules.
“The message is clear: there will be no compromise on public transport safety in Bihar. Vehicle owners who do not comply by the December 31 deadline should prepare for enforcement from January 1,” the minister said.
