With no centres to hear, panic buttons in buses lie idle

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has taken note of a curious case involving emergency alert buttons in buses. While the switches cost just Rs 15-20 each, they have largely remained unused because there are no dedicated centres to respond to alerts. Bus operators told the panel they are still required to pay Rs 2,500 to Rs 25,000 per vehicle to have the switches tested during mandatory fitness tests.The latest report of the parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, headed by JDU’s Sanjay Jha, noted that the buttons were made mandatory after the 2012 Nirbhaya case as a safety measure for women passengers.The report said the road transport ministry informed the panel that in several states, the system had been connected to emergency response number 112. It also said there were many instances of false alarms, prompting some states to “disengage” them.“The ministry wishes the system restored, while am-ong operators there is a feeling that it should be dispensed with,” the report said. A committee member observed if the system was not effective, it was not fair to charge so much for it. One member asked why CCTV could not be installed. The ministry said cameras were being made mandatory in new buses.

The committee recommended that the programme to install emergency buttons, call facilities and vehicle location tracking devices in public transport vehicles be pursued with states beyond the 16 that have made progress in implementing it.