Is the TN Transport Dept Inviting Bids for Vehicle Tracking Devices?

Chennai, Sep 10 (NationPress) The Commissionerate of Transport and Road Safety has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from manufacturers of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) to implement these devices in various commercial and passenger vehicles throughout Tamil Nadu.

The announcement, made on September 4, aligns with the Automotive Industry Standard AIS-140, which necessitates real-time tracking and emergency response features to enhance passenger safety.

As per the notice, manufacturers interested in this opportunity must submit their applications by October 22. The tender will be opened on the same day at the Transport Commissionerate located in Guindy. The bidding process will adhere to the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, along with the relevant Tender Rules of 2000.

This initiative mandates the installation of VLTDs in buses, school buses, stage carriages, All India Tourist Permit vehicles, private service vehicles, maxi cabs, taxis, and goods carriers, including petroleum and water tankers.

However, vehicles that do not fall under permit regulations will be exempt from this requirement, although the Transport Department retains the authority to broaden the scope in the future.

The AIS-140 devices come with panic buttons to trigger immediate alerts in emergencies. They will relay live data to the State’s Command and Control Centre, enabling authorities to monitor movements and ensure rapid response during accidents or other critical incidents.

Officials indicated that this initiative will enhance traffic management and promote greater accountability among transport operators. Interested manufacturers must possess valid type approval and conformity of production certificates from agencies accredited by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). They are also required to establish retrofitment centres in all 38 districts and set up service and support centres in all 12 transport zones.

Furthermore, fitment centres need to be operational across all 91 Regional Transport Office jurisdictions within 30 days of empanelment. Each empanelled manufacturer must provide a performance guarantee of Rs 25 lakh, along with a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh for each service centre.

A registration fee of Rs 25,000 has been set for the first device model, while subsequent models will incur a fee of Rs 10,000. This initiative follows the Union government’s directive on VLTDs, introduced as a nationwide safety measure after the Nirbhaya incident.

The Tamil Nadu government emphasizes that this effort is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety through education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response.