Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken steps to enhance women's safety and promote their participation as drivers in public transport. These steps include mandating vehicle tracking and emergency buttons in public service vehicles (excluding two and three-wheelers), implementing state-wide vehicle tracking platforms under the Nirbhaya Framework, and issuing Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025, which includes provisions for gender sensitivity training for drivers. The government has requested all States/UTs to increase the number of women bus conductors and drivers and felicitated women drivers and conductors of State Road Transport Undertakings (SRTUs) on Women's Day.
Key Points / Main Content:
Vehicle Safety and Tracking:
* Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, mandates Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) and emergency buttons in all public service vehicles (except two-wheelers, E-rickshaws, and three-wheelers).
* A scheme was approved on 15th January 2020, to deploy state-wise vehicle tracking platforms for safety enforcement under the Nirbhaya Framework, with an estimated cost of Rs. 463.90 crore.
* Monitoring Centers are being established across States/UTs to track public service vehicles and coordinate with State Emergency Response Support Systems (SERSS) for distress calls; 16 States/UTs have commissioned these centres.
Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025:
* Aggregators must provide gender sensitivity training to all drivers.
* Vehicles must have functional VLTDs compliant with AIS 140 and panic buttons connected to the aggregator's control room and the State/UT's integrated command and control centre.
* Aggregators must operate a 24/7 control room to monitor vehicle movements and driver activities.
* A 24/7 call centre must be available in English and the official state language to assist passengers and drivers and address grievances.
* Child lock mechanisms are prohibited in aggregator vehicles (except three-wheelers, motorcycles, and buses).
* Aggregators must ensure the safety of passengers, especially children, women, and persons with disabilities, and comply with applicable laws.
* Aggregator apps and websites should include features like live location sharing, driver photo display, multilingual support, a zero-tolerance policy for drugs/alcohol, cybersecurity certification, and panic/emergency alert mechanisms.
Encouragement of Women in Transport:
* All States/UTs were requested to increase the number of women bus conductors and drivers in State Transport Undertaking buses and taxis following the 2nd Chief Secretaries Conference in January 2023.
* The Association of State Road Transport Undertakings felicitated 50 women drivers and conductors of State Road Transport Undertakings (SRTUs) on Women's Day (08.03.2025).
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:
* Impact: Responsible for issuing and overseeing the implementation of regulations and guidelines to enhance women's safety and promote their participation in public transport.
* Action Required: Ensure effective enforcement of the CMVR amendments and Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, and continue to develop and support initiatives that promote women drivers and conductors.
State Governments/Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for establishing and operating Monitoring Centers, and integrating them with the State Emergency Response Support System.
* Action Required: Commission Monitoring Centers, promote the recruitment of women drivers and conductors, and ensure compliance with the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines.
Motor Vehicle Aggregators (e.g., Uber, Ola, Rapido):
* Impact: Required to comply with the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, including providing gender sensitivity training, ensuring vehicle safety features, and operating control and call centres.
* Action Required: Implement gender sensitivity training, install and maintain VLTDs and panic buttons, establish 24/7 control rooms and call centres, and incorporate required safety features into their apps and websites.
Public Transport Drivers:
* Impact: Increased awareness of safety measures and potential training in gender sensitivity.
* Action Required: Comply with safety regulations, undergo required training, and contribute to a safer commuting environment.
Women Commuters:
* Impact: Enhanced safety and security through improved vehicle tracking, emergency response systems, and safer transportation options.
* Action Required: Utilize available safety features and report any safety concerns through appropriate channels.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for road transport and highways.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989: The central rules governing motor vehicles in India.
Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD): A device mandated for installation in public service vehicles for location tracking.
AIS 140 Specifications: Automotive Industry Standard 140 specifications related to vehicle tracking and emergency buttons.
Nirbhaya Framework: A framework focused on enhancing the safety and security of women and girl children.
Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025: Guidelines issued for regulating motor vehicle aggregators and ensuring commuter safety.
Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU): An association of state-owned road transport organizations.
Uber, Ola and Rapido: Mainstream ridehailing platforms
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4750
ANSWERED ON 21st August, 2025
PROMOTION OF WOMEN DRIVERS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT
4750. DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that safety concerns continue
to restrict women's mobility during night hours and resultantly, the
number of women-driven taxis, auto-rickshaws and bike taxi
services remains extremely low across the country, if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to strengthen existing
schemes or introduce new initiatives to promote women drivers in
public transport as a means to improve female commuter safety, if
so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of existing or proposed measures such as financial
incentives, technical training, safety networks or dedicated ride-
hailing platforms aimed at increasing women’s participation as
public transport drivers;
(d) whether the Government is considering mandating a minimum
percentage of women drivers on mainstream ride-hailing platforms
like Uber, Ola and Rapido and if so, the details thereof; and(e) the steps taken/proposed to improve last-mile connectivity and
expand access to safe, women-driven transport across cities and
towns along with expected implementation timelines?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (e) Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,
in line with its commitment to enhancing women’s safety and
promoting their participation as drivers in public transport, has
initiated several steps to address safety concerns and to create an
enabling environment that encourages women to take up driving
roles in public transport, thereby contributing to safer commuting
options for women. The steps are as under :
1. Issued notification G.S.R. 1095(E) dated 28th November 2016,
amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989 by
inserting Rule 125H, which mandates the installation of Vehicle
Location Tracking Device (VLTD) and one or more Emergency
Buttons in all public service vehicles except two wheelers, E-
rickshaw and three wheelers. This was aimed at enhancing the
safety of women and children in public transport.
2. Approved a scheme (on 15th January, 2020) for implementation
of “Development, Customization, Deployment and Management of
State-wise vehicle tracking platform for Safety & Enforcement as
per AIS 140 Specifications in States / UTs under Nirbhaya
Framework” at a total estimated cost of Rs. 463.90 crore (including
Central share of Rs. 332.24 Crore, as per Nirbhaya Framework).
The proposed system envisages enhancing the safety of
women and girl children by establishing Monitoring Centers across
States/UTs, which shall track all the Public Service Vehicles (PSVs)that are fitted with location tracking device and emergency buttons
for raising an alert in case of emergency. The Monitoring Centre will
monitor the alerts and coordinate with State Emergency Response
Support System (SERSS) for responding to distress calls.
Sanctioned proposals received from all 36 States/UTs for
establishing Monitoring Centres. So far, 16 States/UTs have
commissioned these centres.
3. Further, issued Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025
on 01.07.2025 which contains following clauses related to women
commuter safety :
i) Aggregators are required to provide special training on gender
sensitivity as part of the induction training programme for all
drivers.
ii) An aggregator shall ensure that the motor vehicles attached
with on-boarded drivers are fitted with a functional Vehicle Location
Tracking Device or System, compliant with AIS 140, along-with a
panic button, as mandated under Rule 125H of the CMVR and
connected to the control room of the aggregator with the electronic
feed from vehicle location tracking device available at integrated
command and control centre established by the State/ UT
Government.
iii) The aggregator shall establish a control room with 24x7
operations and ensure that all the motor vehicles onboarded
maintain an uninterrupted contact with the control room. The
control room shall monitor the movements of motor vehicles and the
on-boarded drivers
iv) Aggregator shall establish a call centre with an active
telephone number and e-mail address, displayed clearly on its
website and on the App, which shall be operational 24x7, providing
assistance in English and the official language of the State. Thesecall centres shall be responsible for enabling the passenger and/or
the driver or any other person to contact the call centre regarding
issues related to the journey or the on-boarded driver etc. and
ensuring redressal of the passenger grievances.
v) The guidelines explicitly prohibit using child lock mechanisms
in aggregator vehicles (except for three-wheelers, motorcycles and
buses) preventing misuse that could compromise passenger safety.
vi) The aggregator shall ensure the safety of the passengers
especially children, women, divyangjan and compliance with the
applicable law.
vii) Aggregator apps and websites should include features like live
location-sharing, driver photo display, multilingual support, zero-
tolerance policy for use of drugs or alcohol by the driver,
cyber-security certification, panic/emergency alert
mechanisms. These features particularly assist women passengers
allowing them to share ride details in real time, validate driver
identity, and receive assistance, if needed.
3. As per the decision taken in the 2nd Chief Secretaries
Conference held in January, 2023 at New Delhi, Government has
requested all States/UTs to make sincere efforts to increase the
number of women bus conductors and drivers in State Transport
Undertaking buses, as well as in taxis, including app-based cabs.
4. To encourage participation of women as drivers and
conductors, Association of State Road Transport Undertakings
have felicitated 50 women drivers and conductors of State Road
Transport Undertakings (SRTUs) on women’s day on 08.03.2025 at
a special felicitation event organized in New Delhi.
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