13/2/2019
PUNE: The Pune
Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) said they were holding talks
with smart city officials and police to install panic buttons on women’s buses.
“There are 33 all-women buses with the PMPML, and by the end of March, a total
of 66 Tejaswini buses will be operating. Though we intend to have panic buttons
in all our buses, all-women buses are a priority. We are in the midst of
discussions with the authorities,” a PMPML official said.
Recently Tata Motors provided six Tejaswini buses to the PMPML. Tata Motors
officials have said that by April-end, 27 more buses meant only for women will
be provided. “About the panic buttons, we need to develop a proper system in
which, once the button is pressed, the message reaches the competent
authorities,” the official said.
The state government has already missed a couple of deadlines
on the plan of installing panic buttons and GPS trackers. Earlier, officials at
the Pune regional transport office had said that it wouold be the responsibility
of the manufacturers of devices like panic buttons and vehicle tracking systems
to set up a back-end office so that distress signals can be tracked and acted
upon.
“It is understandable that the state government still doesn’t
have a proper system for this. But we feel that something can be worked out
with the Smart Cities and the Pune police for Tejaswini buses and thereafter,
the other PMPML buses,” another official said. Sapna Patil, a commuter, said
while more all-women buses were a welcome development, the state government
needs to act fast. “How come they are delaying such an important decision? How
can those manufacturing the system track us and help us?” she said.
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