
Bhubaneswar: From January 2024, all new passenger vehicles in Odisha will be equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD). QToday, the State Transport Department has issued a notice according to which, starting from January 1, new vehicles will be fitted with VLTD for location tracking.
Furthermore, old vehicles registered until June 30, 2024, will also be required to have VLTD. According to the information released by the Commerce and Transport Department, vehicles registered by December 31 will have the deadline extended for fitting the tracking device for goods carriers.
The VLTD initiative is part of a project managed by a command center in Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar. The software for VLTD operations has been developed by BSNL.
As per the information, the Delhi bus incident has prompted the central government to mandate the installation of VLTD and panic buttons in all passenger and goods vehicles across the country. Odisha is leading the way in implementing this arrangement among all states.
The VLTD system, along with a software application, was demonstrated in October 2022 in the Transport Department and BSNL’s collaboration. According to the plan, VLTD will be implemented in every vehicle by June 30, 2024. However, the actual implementation will be verified during the registration process.

In case of emergency, passengers can press the panic button on the installed device, which will trigger an alarm at the command center. The command center will then inform the concerned district’s SP and nearby police stations for assistance. This information will also be sent to the passengers for their safety.
It is advisable to use the panic button in case of any irregularity inside the vehicle. This measure will be particularly crucial for women passengers. The easy implementation of the panic button in case of theft or danger inside the vehicle ensures the safety of life. In the case of malfunctioning of the vehicle tracking system, the passengers can report it easily, especially for B2C transportation.
Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping will reveal the exact location of any vehicle on the map. Additionally, if any passenger faces any inconvenience in any private vehicle, they can complain by contacting the command center on the toll-free number provided. The police and other forces will reach them promptly for assistance.