City buses in Mangalore have started installing dashboard cameras as a precautionary measure to provide evidence in case of accidents or any traffic violations. Private bus operators in Mangalore so far have installed cameras in 30 of the 300 city buses in the last six months. The dashboard cameras have been installed in addition to surveillance cameras fixed inside the buses. In addition to city buses, 50 private express buses plying between Mangalore and Udupi, Kundapura and Kollur have also installed dashboard cameras.
Installation of surveillance camera facing commuters began after the department made it mandatory for all goods and public vehicles to install vehicle tracking devices and panic button for the safety of passengers.
In addition to providing evidence for traffic offences, the footage of the surveillance camera and the dashboard camera will help owners to have realistic information about movement of their buses, the number of commuters who have travelled in the bus and about brawls, if any, involving the bus crew, the Chalo executive said.
