Rejecting the objections of private bus owners’ association to the proposal of installing CCTV and global positioning system in passenger buses, the Odisha government has decided to issue final notification making safety apparatus mandatory in buses.
The State government in April last had issued a draft notification asking bus operators to compulsorily install CCTV and GPS in every bus and submit police report about criminal antecedents of bus staff.
Private bus owners had questioned the authority of the State government to amend the Motor Vehicles Act. They had also pointed out that the proposal of submitting police report about drivers and conductors was not practical on the ground. Objections were received from different districts as well as State associations.
The transport department, however, rejected objections point by point and announced to publish final notification effecting amendments in Orissa Motor Rules 1993 here on Tuesday.
“The proposed amendment is within the competence and rule making powers of the State government. In exercise of powers conferred upon the State government under Section 95 of Motor Vehicle Act 1998, the draft rule was published. The objections are thus not tenable,” State Transport Commissioner pointed out in a letter.
Moreover, proposal to regulate activity of passengers, drivers, conductor and helper in stage carriage was aimed at ensuring safety of passengers more particularly women passengers travelling in public service vehicles, the Commissioner contended.
Prasanta Patnaik