State yet to implement vehicle tracking scheme
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 11 2022:
In the wake of the infamous gang rape and murder incident that took place on December 16, 2012 in New Delhi popularly known as Nirbhaya case, the Union ministry of road transport and highways had directed all the states of the country to have vehicle tracking system particularly on public transport vehicles and install panic button for safety of women and child passengers.
The ministry sanctioned a total of Rs 5,49,60,000 under the scheme in respect of Manipur but there is no sign of converting the project into action till date.
Under Nirbhaya Fund framework, the Union ministry of road transport and highways launched the vehicle tracking system scheme for safety of women and children travelling on public transport.
The ministry initiated the scheme as 'Development, customisation, deployment and management of state-wise tracking platform for safety and enforcement as per AIS 140 specification' and its main objective is to ensure safety of women and girl passengers on public transport from attempted rape and attack.
Emergency or panic buttons are to be installed on all public transport vehicles and there must be a monitoring centre for each state under the scheme.
Under the scheme, Vehicle Local Tracking Device (VLT) is to be installed on all public transport registered before or after January 1, 2019 and the company making VLT device should give a unique identification number to Va-han database and link the particular vehicle fitted with VLT device and panic button.
The scheme is a joint venture of the Centre and the state governments with 80 percent of the fund borne by the Centre and the remaining by the state/union territory concerned.
According to a reliable source, the Centre had already released Rs 5,49,60,000 as first instalment of the scheme in respect of Manipur state in December 2020 and a state cabinet meeting held on June 22, 2021 had approved implementation of the scheme.
Joint secretary of the ministry Amit Bharadan had on December 17, 2021 also sent a communique regarding the scheme to the then commissioner (transport) mentioning that MANITRON will be the implementing agency.
The communique also proposed commissioning of the monitoring centre by December, 2021 and directed for speeding up the implementation process.
The ministry had also issued a guideline for installation of vehicle tracking system on January 15, 2020.As per the guideline, Delhi Integrated Multi-Model Transit System (DIMTS), Delhi was appointed as national project management unit (PMU).
It also allows states to appoint their own implementing agency, have own monitory system and design vehicle tracking devices.
The guideline also allows states to have their own Project Management Consultant (PMC) or DIMTS.
However, the state government has to bear expenditure incurred in appointment of DIMTS as state PMC.
As per the guideline, the state cabinet approved and appointed MANITRON as the implementing agency of the scheme in respect of Manipur in 2021.However, joint director (transport) representing the state of Manipur had signed an MoU with DIMTS Delhi on August 18, 2020 making DIMTS as PMC for the state.
As per the MoU, DIMTS became PMC for the state officially from December, 2020 and it will be effective till December, 2022.Accordingly, state government has to pay Rs 7,24,712 every month to PMC and the consultation fee must be increased 10 percent from the second year.
This has raised question from certain sections of people as to why an MoU was signed with DIMTS prior to appointment of state's own MANITRON as the implementing agency for the scheme.
Comment
