Bhubaneswar, April 29: The state government has decided to install closed-circuit television cameras and global positioning system (GPS) devices in all private and government buses, including those plying in the city.
The transport department had issued a public notice last week, seeking objections and suggestions within one month. The notification also directed bus owners to forward the name of drivers, conductors and helpers along with their address, photographs, identity proof and a copy of any police report about their antecedents and character to the state transport authority and regional transport office in advance.
An official said the step had been taken to ensure safety of passengers, especially women. At present, around 15,000 private and 426 government buses ply in the state.
Sources said some agencies running buses in Delhi, Bangalore and Pune have installed closed-circuit cameras in the vehicles. "The decision was taken keeping an eye on the safety of passengers. Two sub-sections have been added to the Odisha Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993, for this purpose," said commerce and transport minister Ramesh Majhi.
In June 2013, a helper in an air-conditioned luxury bus allegedly raped a 25-year-old girl when she was on her way to Cuttack. Police had arrested the helper.
At present, 12 air-conditioned buses plying under city bus service in Bhubaneswar are equipped with the closed-circuit cameras. "We welcome the move by the state government. This will definitely help curb crimes on buses," said chief executive officer of Dream Team Shahara (DTS), Sudhanshu Jena. The DTS is the private operator of the service introduced in Bhubaneswar in 2010.
The Odisha Private Bus Owners' Association, however, described the move as unrealistic.
"Since heights of the buses are low, anybody can tamper with the CCTVs according to their convenience," said secretary of the association Debendra Sahu.
On the decision about antecedent verification of drivers and helpers, he said it would not be possible for the bus owners to do that. "We would suggest the government to get everything verified and publish a list, which would enable us to hire drivers without any criminal record," said Sahu.
