Uttar Pradesh makes CCTV mandatory for all school vans | Details Inside

Uttar Pradesh: In a bid to bolster the safety and security of school children, the Uttar Pradesh government led by CM Yogi Adityanath has passed a directive making it mandatory to install CCTV cameras in all school vans operating within the state. The notification, issued by L Venkateshwarlu, the principal secretary of state transport, stipulates that this provision will be enforced three months from the date of publication in the Gazette. Although the provision already existed within the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, the recent notification now establishes a concrete deadline for the installation of CCTV cameras in every school van across the state.

The order was issued by principal secretary (transport) Lakko Venkateshwarlu. "The provision of compulsory CCTV cameras in the school vans and buses as provided under rule 222 of the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1998, (and) as amended by the government on May 2, 2022, shall come into effect after three months from the date of publication of this notification in Gazette,” it read. 

The administration plans to extend the use of such cameras to all public transport vehicles once the proposed centralised vehicle location tracking center becomes operational. The transport department has already initiated collaboration with a private agency for the implementation of the Vehicle Location Tracking System (VLTS) in Uttar Pradesh. This agency is entrusted with the responsibility to deploy, integrate, and commission a vehicle tracking platform aligned with the Nirbhaya framework, aimed at enhancing vehicle monitoring and safety measures. The ambitious project aims to integrate all public transport vehicles (excluding two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and e-rickshaws) with vehicle location tracking devices, enabling real-time monitoring through an integrated control and command center, as per reports. 

The Uttar Pradesh transport department's move aligns with the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) mandate, compelling specified public service vehicles as defined under section 2(35) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, along with vehicles requiring or possessing national permits, to be equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and emergency buttons.

Moreover, the updated UP Motor Vehicle Rules, 1998, outline specific regulations concerning buses and vans responsible for transporting school children across the state. According to the amended rules, these vehicles must be prominently painted in yellow, bearing the label 'School Bus' on both their front and rear sides. Additionally, they are prohibited from having pressure horns, multi-tone horns, alarm bells, or sirens for emergency purposes. The guidelines also mandate the inclusion of essential safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, GPS tracking systems, and the presence of an attendant within these vehicles.

(With inputs from local reports)