GPS missing from DTC buses, CCTV cameras defunct

NEW DELHI: At a time when the city government was trying hard to streamline all the transport systems in Delhi, hundreds of GPS systems being fitted with state-run DTC buses are missing and worst, almost all the CCTV cameras being installed too are un-functional.

The development comes at a time when the AAP government was busy in celebrating its third year in power, which has been highlighting its achievement through rallies and others. Also the development comes as a setback for the Delhi Transport Corporation, which aims to make operation of its entire buses more effective in terms of punctuality and to keep a tab on their whereabouts in real time.

Unfortunately, hundreds of Global Positioning System (GPS) are missing from the DTC buses, officials said.

It may be mentioned that the Nirbhaya incident of 2012 forced the government and police to take several measures to ensure women safety in the city.

The pilot project of CCTVs in 200 buses had been undertaken in 2014, but it is very unfortunate that since then, the number remained the same, an official of the Transport department said.

"In the 2017-18 Budget, the government has allocated Rs 100 crore for installation of CCTV cameras in all DTC buses," a senior official said requesting anonymity.

The DTC had installed GPS devices in 3,700 buses, including AC and non-AC floor buses with an aim to improve bus service ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The issue has become a point of contention between the Delhi Integrated Multiple-model Transit System (DIMTS), which is responsible for maintenance of the control and the Transport department.

The official said there have been around 1,800 GPS devices left in DTC buses, many of which are not working properly due to which their plan of making bus operation effective in terms of punctuality has seemingly failed.

Some of the devices in DTC buses have been found tampered with, he added.

A former Delhi Transport Commissioner- cum CMD of DTC said DTC drivers are behind the tampering of GPS and Depot managers are very much know about it.

Sources said drivers could be behind all this as if a GPS device works properly, movement of the bus can easily be tracked by control room set up at Raj Ghat Depot. Currently, the DTC has a fleet of 3,944 and 1634 buses are run by DIMTS as cluster buses.