Transport unions urge Govt. to revise prices of tracking devices, panic buttons

Transport Department standardizes pricing for Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and panic buttons, facing opposition from unions over high costs.

Following complaints from yellow board vehicle owners about excessive pricing by authorised vendors for Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) and emergency panic buttons, the Transport Department has standardised the costs. The department has set the price of a VLTD at ₹5,424, each panic button at ₹325, and the annual network connectivity and maintenance fee at ₹1,800.

However, unions representing cab, bus, and truck operators have urged the government to reassess the pricing structure. They argue that the steep costs, coupled with a lack of awareness, have made it challenging for many vehicle owners to comply with the mandate.

In December 2023, the State government introduced a directive requiring all public transport and national permit vehicles to install VLTDs and panic buttons to enhance passenger safety. In response, transport unions challenged the mandate in court, and the case is currently ongoing. Meanwhile, sources in the Transport Department have confirmed that pricing for the equipment has been set. The number of panic buttons required varies based on vehicle capacity, with a five-seater motor cab needing at least three buttons, more than that required like a passenger bus requires seven, according to a department official source.

The regulation also mandates that operators procure these devices exclusively from one of 13 government-approved vendors. Previously, these vendors were offering the equipment at ₹7,599, excluding GST. Transport unions argue that this restriction stifles competition and forces vehicle owners to pay inflated prices.

K. Radhakrishna Holla, president of the Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association, highlighted the financial strain this mandate places on vehicle owners. “Forcing vehicle owners to replace existing tracking systems with VLTDs and panic buttons increases their financial burden. Many cab operators had already installed GPS tracking devices voluntarily to enhance passenger safety and curb illegal activities. Now, being compelled to purchase additional equipment at high prices from a limited set of vendors is especially difficult for small-scale, independent drivers,” he said.

Echoing similar concerns, Sukumar R., a cab driver, emphasised the difficulties faced by drivers who rely on daily earnings to meet expenses. “We are already struggling with rising costs, and now we have to buy these expensive tracking devices. If the government is serious about improving safety, they should at least offer financial assistance or provide these devices at a more affordable rate,” he said.