Bhubaneswar, Sept 8: Panic button and vehicle location tracking device (VLTD) are mandatory for registration of all commercial and passenger vehicles in Odisha from October 1.
All new vehicles meant for public transport and registered on or after October 1 must be fitted with VLTD of AIS 140 standards and panic button, a notification issued by transport department on Thursday said.
Old vehicles registered on or before September 30 will have to be fitted with these two devices before December 31, 2023.
Public service vehicles like buses, educational institution buses, ambulances, all types of cabs, Omni buses, goods carriage vehicles and vehicles carrying hazardous and explosive materials will have to be fitted with VLTD and panic buttons.
Only two-wheelers, rickshaws and three-wheelers have been exempted from this rule.
The Transport department has taken the step to ensure security of passengers, particularly women and children travelling in such vehicles.
“If the VLTD is not fitted in the specified vehicles then new vehicles will not be registered on or after October 1 and old vehicles registered on or before September 30 will not be able to make the transactions in Vahan for fitness certificate, transfer of ownership, permit and national permit authorisation,” warned the notification.
However, vehicle owners have the liberty to choose any VLTD from the available manufacturers approved by the state government. The vehicle owners can check the list of approved vendors and the nearest retrofitment centre (RFC) available in their district by visiting the Transport department website.
