Thiruvananthapuram sources added that the Centre has decided to postpone the mandatory requirement to have global positioning system (GPS) equipment and panic button connected to all public transport service vehicles till April 1, 2019. Accordingly the original decision that was based on the court directives in the Nirbhaya case verdict, was to implement them by 2017 that was subsequently extended to April 1, 2018.
Meanwhile the Centre has sent the new notification that was issued on April 19 to all the states, including Kerala. Since next year is the year of general elections, the project is likely to get delayed further. Further on the basis of the Centre's directive, the state's motor vehicle department had been in the process of setting up a radar surveillance system to monitor passenger vehicles when the GPS is fitted on them.
Transport Commissioner K. Padmakumar said "The CDAC has been
entrusted with the job and considering the deadline, we were on a fast track
mode. In the wake of extended deadline, we would get more breathing
space".
