Tamil Nadu Pushes for Vehicle Tracking Devices to Boost Road Safety
Chennai’s Transport Department is taking a big step to make roads safer across the state. They’ve called on manufacturers of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for installing these gadgets in various commercial and passenger vehicles. This move, announced on September 4, follows the Automotive Industry Standard AIS-140, which requires real-time tracking and quick emergency alerts to protect passengers.
If you’re a manufacturer interested in this Tamil Nadu vehicle tracking initiative, you have until October 22 to apply. Officials will open the bids that day at the Transport Commissionerate in Guindy. Everything follows the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, and its rules from 2000, ensuring a fair process.
The plan makes VLTD installation mandatory for a bunch of vehicles, including buses, school buses, stage carriages, All India Tourist Permit vehicles, private service vehicles, maxi cabs, taxis, and goods carriers like petroleum and water tankers. Vehicles without permits get a pass for now, but the department might expand the list later.
These AIS-140 compliant devices come with handy panic buttons. Hit one in an emergency, and it sends instant alerts. They also beam live location data straight to the state’s Command and Control Centre. This setup lets authorities track vehicle movements and rush help during accidents or incidents, making road safety in Tamil Nadu a top priority.
Transport officials believe this will not only cut down risks but also improve traffic management and hold operators more accountable. To join in, companies need valid type approval and conformity certificates from agencies approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). They’ll also have to set up retrofitment centres in all 38 districts and service centres in the 12 transport zones.
Plus, fitment centres must pop up in all 91 Regional Transport Office areas within 30 days of getting selected. Each approved manufacturer puts down a Rs 25 lakh performance guarantee, plus Rs 5 lakh bank guarantee per service centre. The registration fee starts at Rs 25,000 for the first device model, dropping to Rs 10,000 for extras.
This Tamil Nadu road safety push ties into the central government’s nationwide VLTD mandate, sparked by the tragic Nirbhaya case years ago. The state government sees it as key to their four-pillar plan: education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response. With more eyes on the roads, expect safer travels for everyone soon.
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