Port Blair, July 16: As per Notification No. GSR 1095 (E) dated 28.11.2016 issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India for making amendment in Central Motor Vehicle Rule, 1989 by inserting Rule 125-H, fitment of Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) and emergency button has been made mandatory, in all public service vehicle (motor vehicle used or adapted to be used for the carriage of passengers for hire or regard and includes a maxi cab, a motor cab, contract carriage and stage carriage) except two wheelers, E-rickshaw, three wheeler and any transport vehicle for which no permit is required), to be equipped with or fitted with VLT device and one or more emergency buttons.

Subsequently, the Ministry vide Notification No.GSR 617(E) dated 03-08-2022 included vehicles of categories N2 & N3 (Goods vehicles in which Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) are exceeding 3500 Kgs), carrying dangerous or hazardous goods, for mandatory fitment of VLTDs.

For any other category of vehicles other than that mentioned above, fitment of VLTD is not required as on date. However, as and when any Notification in this regard is issued by MoRTH, GOI, the categories of vehicles will be incorporated in the mandatory fitment of VLTD list. Prior to doing so, intimation to general public will be made.  All the vehicle owners of public service vehicles which includes a maxi cab, a motor cab, contract carriage and stage carriage and vehicle category N2 & N3 carrying dangerous & hazardous goods have been advised to get their vehicle fitted with VLTD from any one of the registered Firms, failing which, necessary action deemed fit as per MV Law shall been taken against the vehicle owner.

As regards to Firms providing VLTDs for the vehicles plying in the UT of A&N Islands, Transport Department has followed the guidelines & Notifications issued by Ministry and accordingly, empanelled 22 Firms so far having Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for VLTD confirming to AIS-140 Standard for retro-fitment of VLTDs in the UT. Out of the 22 firms, 05 firms had got their device tested till 25.06.2023 and were registered in the VLTD portal of Transport Department, A&N Islands. 

The details of firms were published in the Daily Telegrams dated 26-06-2023. On 11.07.2023, three more firms have successfully tested their devices and were on-boarded in the VLTD portal. The above details have also been uploaded in the Transport Department website transport.and.nic.in for the information of vehicle owners.

It is further clarified that Transport Department has not stopped the registration process of new VLTD vendors who are possessing TAC conforming to AIS-140 Standard. The empanelment &registration are kept open for the VLTD vendors and any VLTD manufacturer can get their firm registered in the portal after following the guidelines. The empanelment of firms is a continuous process and name of other Vehicle Location Tracking Device manufacturers who have applied for enlistment would be published subsequently as and when those manufacturers complete all the official formalities and technical evaluation of vehicle Location Tracking Device.    

The Vehicle Location Tracking Device manufacturers so empanelled vide this publication are authorized to sell and provide services, AMC and operate other related issues for the above mentioned categories of vehicle in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.