In a significant move aimed at improving passenger safety, the Supreme Court of India has directed the mandatory installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) and emergency alarm buttons in all public service vehicles across the country.
A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan instructed state governments and Union Territories to ensure strict implementation of the rule. Authorities have been told not to issue fitness certificates under Section 56 or permits under Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act unless the required devices are installed and recorded in the VAHAN database.
The directive reinforces Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, which already requires such safety systems to enable real-time tracking and quicker emergency response in public transport vehicles like buses, taxis and tourist coaches.
During proceedings, the court was informed that compliance levels remain extremely low, with only about one percent of vehicles adopting the mandated systems over the past several years. The bench expressed concern over the slow implementation, describing the situation as alarming.
The court has also asked the Centre to examine whether these tracking systems can be installed at the manufacturing stage itself. Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee has been tasked with exploring this possibility in consultation with vehicle manufacturers.
A meeting between the government and automakers has been suggested to arrive at a final decision on integrating these features into new vehicles before sale.
The move is expected to strengthen monitoring and safety mechanisms in public transport, particularly in emergency situations where quick response is critical. Effective enforcement, however, will depend on coordination between regulators, manufacturers and state authorities.
