Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Delhi Bus Safety Measures Face Questions After Panic Button Audit
Delhi has planned safety tools such as cameras and panic buttons on buses for women.
Similar plans were used by an earlier government too.
But a 2023 audit found a serious problem.
When someone pressed a panic button, the alert did not reach the police emergency system.
The two systems were not connected properly.
The Lieutenant Governor also reviewed plans for police stations focused on women and children.
Police officers said the first station was almost ready to start.
These steps are intended to help women report danger and get assistance.
CCTVs and panic buttons have been announced for Delhi buses to improve women’s safety.
Similar safety measures were announced and implemented under a previous Delhi government.
A 2023 Comptroller and Auditor General audit found panic alerts were not reaching the police’s 112 emergency system.
The audit attributed the failure to a lack of integration between the panic-button and emergency-response platforms.
The Lieutenant Governor reviewed plans for women’s police stations, with the first reportedly ready to open soon.
- Who
- Women bus passengers, Delhi authorities, police officials, and the Comptroller and Auditor General.
- What
- Delhi’s bus safety measures and plans for women-focused police stations are being reviewed, after an audit found panic alerts were not reaching the police emergency system.
- When
- Similar measures were announced under a previous government; the connectivity problem was identified in a 2023 audit, and the first women’s police station was expected to become operational soon.
- Where
- Delhi buses, the police’s 112 emergency system, and planned women’s police stations in Delhi.
- Why
- The measures are intended to enhance women’s safety and address complaints and crimes involving women and children.
- Safety measures
- CCTVs and panic buttons have been announced for installation in buses.
- Earlier efforts
- Similar measures were announced and implemented during a previous Delhi government.
- Audit year
- 2023
- Audit finding
- Panic-button alerts were not reaching the police’s 112 emergency system.
- Identified problem
- There was no integration between the panic-button and emergency-response platforms.
- Women’s police stations
- The Lieutenant Governor reviewed plans for stations dedicated to complaints and crimes involving women and children.
- Operational status
- Police officers said the first such police station was ready to be operationalised soon.