States restrict VLTD vendors, bus owners flag fewer choices & steep prices

NEW DELHI: Owners of buses, trucks and cabs are facing difficulties in installing the mandatory vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs), with many states allowing only a limited number of vendors to supply the devices. This is despite the road transport ministry’s October 2018 notification explicitly stating that vehicle owners would have the “freedom to choose or install the VLT device of his choice”.The notification specified that manufacturers of VLT devices must obtain type approval for their devices in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. It also said, “A VLT device manufacturer may offer value added services, in addition to mandatory performance requirements to the public service vehicle owners as per the mutual agreement between them.”Bus operators have alleged that Uttar Pradesh has effectively restricted competition in the supply of AIS-140 compliant VLTDs by allowing only one vendor for each bus make. “This is compelling bus owners to pay as much as Rs 45,000 for a device, whereas VLTDs are available in the open market for not more than Rs 12,000. We have raised the issue and will take it up with the road transport ministry,” said an executive of a bus operators’ association.TOI has learnt that the Bus Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) had earlier raised a similar issue with the road transport ministry over states, including Haryana and Delhi, allowing only a limited number of players to supply VLTDs.Sources said the ministry is looking into the issue and may soon issue an advisory to states, asking them to ensure that vehicle owners have the freedom to choose from type-approved VLTD manufacturers rather than being restricted to a handful of vendors.Mandatory VLTD in vehicles was introduced to their vehicle movement and enable a quick response during emergencies, including distress alerts triggered by women passengers through panic buttons installed in buses and taxis.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.