Saturday, 17 February 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The enforcement team of the regional transport office of the Dehradun division on Friday started checking GPS installation in the public transport vehicles operating within 1.5 kilometres of the Clock Tower. The team led by the RTO (enforcement) Shailesh Tiwari manually checked several vehicles for GPS installation and warned those who had not installed them yet that they could face legal action. He said that the Transport department had asked all local public transport vehicle operators to install GPS devices on their respective vehicles by February 15. Many have installed it, many have assured they will install it soon while some are also against it.
The department’s aim is not to bother public transport vehicle operators but to bring them together in this initiative. “Almost all city buses, mini buses and e-buses have GPS installed. During the checking on Friday, many auto rickshaw and Vikram operators were apprehensive about GPS installation and we addressed their issues. We did not impose any challan on vehicles without GPS but we noted their vehicle numbers to send the owners of these vehicles a notice. If they do not comply within the stipulated time, we will act against them by revoking their permits and imposing challans. Initially, our aim is just to make them aware and ensure they comply with the orders,” the RTO said.
Talking about the multiple benefits of this initiative, he said that GPS will help the department streamline traffic near Clock Tower and Parade Ground as it will detect public transport operating there illegally. The GPS installation will also help the authorities to get the data to know exactly how many vehicles operate in the said areas. It will help them to make an efficient traffic plan accordingly. “We have declared the area within 1.5 kilometres of Clock Tower a traffic monitor zone and all the information will help us to make future plans to streamline traffic. Besides this, it will also be helpful in providing help in time if any vehicle meets with an accident. It will also be helpful in women’s and children’s safety as tracking a vehicle in case of any unfortunate incident will be easy. The GPS and panic button often work together and if a woman or child in danger presses it, authorities can track it easily too,” Tiwari added.
On the allegations that the department is imposing GPS installation orders against the rules, he said that everything is being done as per the rules and some people are issuing wrong statements only because they are against this initiative.
