New Delhi: In a major effort to improve passenger safety and strengthen road safety enforcement, India’s Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to strictly implement rules mandating GPS tracking systems and emergency buttons in public service vehicles.
The order could have wide-ranging implications for taxis, app-based taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws and other commercial passenger vehicles operating across the country.
A bench of JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan observed that less than one per cent of transport vehicles currently have vehicle location tracking systems installed, terming the situation alarming.
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The Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to strictly implement rules mandating GPS tracking systems and emergency buttons in public service vehicles. This includes taxis, app-based taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws and other commercial passenger vehicles.
These measures are essential for passenger safety and emergency response. GPS tracking enables real-time location tracking of vehicles, while emergency buttons serve as emergency alert systems for passengers in emergency situations.
Public service vehicles are not required to receive a Certificate of Competency or Permit to Transport unless they have the required Vehicle Position Tracking Devices (VLTD) and emergency push buttons installed. The installation details must also be updated on the Vahan government portal.
The order directly affects taxi operators, app-based taxis, government and private buses, commercial passenger vans, autorickshaws and school transport vehicles. This could lead to additional compliance requirements and installation costs for operators.
The Supreme Court has backed a proposal that vehicle manufacturers install GPS tracking systems and panic buttons during the manufacturing phase. The center is to consult with manufacturers and submit a report on the feasibility of this proposal.
The court directed the authorities to strictly enforce rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
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“We direct all States and Union Territories to strictly enforce Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 by ensuring installation of vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons in a time-bound and verifiable manner in new and existing public service vehicles,” the bench said.
What does the Supreme Court order mean?
The ruling means that public service vehicles may no longer be able to legally operate without the installation of a vehicle position tracking device (VLTD) and emergency panic buttons.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that transport vehicles should not be issued certificates of fitness or permission to transport unless these safety systems are installed.
Importantly, installation details must also be updated on the government’s Vahan portal, which digitally tracks vehicle registration and transport-related records across India.
This could directly affect:
- Taxi services and app-based taxi services
- State and private buses
- Commercial personal vans
- Autorickshaws covered by a transport permit
- School transport vehicles and other public carriers
For operators, the order could translate into additional compliance requirements and installation costs. However, this step is seen as an important safety measure for passengers, especially for women, children and the elderly.
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Why are GPS devices and emergency buttons important?
Vehicle tracking devices allow authorities and operators to track the location of vehicles in real time. Panic buttons, meanwhile, are designed as emergency warning systems that passengers can use in emergency situations.
The Supreme Court emphasized that these measures are essential to protect passengers and respond to emergencies.
The court’s comments come amid recurring concerns about the safety of public transport passengers, especially in urban areas where taxi and app-based taxi services are widely used.
Manufacturers may also be required to install the equipment
The Supreme Court also supported the suggestion that vehicle manufacturers install GPS tracking systems and panic buttons during the manufacturing phase itself before the vehicles are sold.
To review the feasibility of the proposal, the court directed the Center to hold consultations with car manufacturers and submit a report.
If this step is implemented in the future, it could shift the responsibility from the transporters to the manufacturer at the stage of production itself.
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Court flags wider road safety concerns
Apart from enforcing GPS tracking, the Supreme Court also made a strong comment on the overall road safety situation in India.
“There is virtually no concept of lane driving in India,” the bench observed, adding that poor lane discipline remains the main reason for road accidents.
“Driving in lanes is something that will significantly reduce the number of accidents. The government must focus on it,” the court said.
The court also criticized several states for failing to submit reports regarding speed governors or speed-limiting devices in vehicles. She reiterated that manufacturers are required by law to equip vehicles with such systems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still waiting
The bench further expressed concern that the proposed National Road Safety Board has still not been constituted despite the court’s earlier directions.
The court gave a final three-month opportunity to form a council.
The case stems from a public interest litigation filed in 2012 by S Rajaseekaran, who expressed concern over the rising number of road accidents in India and sought stronger safety infrastructure and post-accident care systems.
Over the years, the Supreme Court has issued several directions on the matter, aimed at reducing the number of deaths and improving road safety enforcement across the country.
