DIMAPUR — The Department of Transport on May 28 inaugurated the Nirbhaya Vehicle Location Tracking System (VLTS) Command and Control Centre at the Transport Commissionerate in Kohima.
Speaking at the launch programme, the commissioner and secretary of Transport, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi, described the launch of Nirhbaya VLTS as a great achievement and a joy for the state, a step towards providing safety for women, children and old-age and other passengers.
Chusi informed that the system would allow drivers of passenger vehicle to be more cautious as it would provide more security and safety for passengers. He urged the department, stakeholders and the public to act collectively and utilise the device to their full advantage.
He also appreciated the able leadership of the Transport commissioner and his team involved in achieving the milestone.
The Transport commissioner, Elias T Lotha, gave a brief overview of the Nirbhaya VLTS project, which was initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH). He stated that 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.
Elias also informed that the vehicle location tracking device (VLTD) would be installed on all public transport registered before or after January 1, 2019. He added that those vehicles would be fitted with a unique ID and a panic button and the details would be integrated with the Vahan database.
The commissioner also stated that the vehicle location tracking would be monitored in a Command-and-Control Centre manned by personnel 24x7 and that the centre would serve as an interface, linking the vehicles, the police control room and related enforcement and emergency units into a real-time data-sharing network.
He mentioned that during an emergency, the travelers can press the panic button that would send a distress message to the Command-and-Control Centre, which would subsequently alert the police and other concerned stakeholders to attend to the situation.
The objective, according to him, was to ensure safety of women and girl child. It would also cover safety for women, children and vulnerable individuals who often face safety challenges while commuting, especially during late hours or in unfamiliar areas.
He further mentioned that the project aims to improve trust and confidence among commuters leading to increased usage of public transport. He added that the collaboration between transport authorities, enforcement agencies and quick response teams would ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the project.