Bengaluru, Nov 3: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to installation of location tracking devices and emergency panic buttons for all public and private transport vehicles, aimed at safety of passengers.

This project is being implemented in partnership with the central government. The union government will give 60 per cent funds and the state 40 per cent.

Noting that the cabinet has given administrative approval of Rs 20.36 crore for this project, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said a total of 6.8 lakh vehicles, both government and private, will be covered under this, and they will be monitored from a central location once installation is completed.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, he said, "On national highways and state highways, vehicles move very fast causing accidents. GPRS devices based on the vehicle location tracking system (VLTS) will be able to track speed and determine whether or not vehicles stop at prescribed locations and follow the scheduled route on time." This can even prevent unnecessary delays and stop unauthorised vehicles from moving, he said. It will also help in identifying those misusing permits and evading tax.

There are a total 71,248 buses and 85,941 commercial goods vehicles operating in the state. There are 4.51 lakh private vehicles like- cabs, maxi cabs and taxis, 16,432 school buses, 24,701 KSRTC (state transport) buses, and 1,900 tourist vehicles, he added.

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Ranchi: Champai Soren, a prominent figure in Jharkhand’s statehood movement, is contesting the 2024 assembly elections from Seraikela, a seat he has consistently held since 1991.

However, there is a surprising shift in his political journey this year. Having resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) earlier this year, Soren is now representing the BJP, a move that could significantly impact the electoral dynamics in the state.

Soren’s switiching is seen as a strategic benefit for the saffron party, which has been working to expand its appeal among Jharkhand’s tribal communities, a demographic traditionally aligned with the JMM. His departure from the JMM, led by Shibu Soren and his son Hemant Soren, was fueled by dissatisfaction with the state government’s policies, which he claimed had failed to address tribal concerns.

Also known as "Jharkhand’s Tiger" for his instrumental role in the statehood movement of the 1990s, Champai Soren has respect and influence among tribal voters. His decision to switch the party could be a turning point in the BJP’s efforts to gain a stronger hold in a state where tribal votes often decide the outcome.