According to a Government Resolution (GR), this equipment is intended to boost the preparedness and response capabilities of agencies like the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Maharashtra Fire Services
As per a GR, the state has now approved the increased expenditure for the procurement of all 23 items of equipment to be provided to the Indian Army for disaster response purposes in the region. File Pic
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved a proposal to procure equipment and machinery worth Rs 47.72 lakh to support relief and rescue operations, officials said, reported the PTI.
According to a Government Resolution (GR), this equipment is intended to boost the preparedness and response capabilities of agencies like the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Maharashtra Fire Services, as per the PTI.
The funding is being provided under the capacity-building and preparedness programme, guided by recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, said the GR issued by the Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation Department.
The Indian Army's Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa Area Headquarters, based at Colaba in south Mumbai, had earlier requested the provision of 23 specific items of equipment. While the initial approval was granted and tenders were called, the process did not attract the desired response, according to the PTI.
Subsequently, the Indian Army submitted a revised estimate amounting to Rs 47.72 lakh, reflecting an increase of Rs 7.36 lakh from the earlier sanctioned cost.
As per the GR, the state has now approved the increased expenditure for the procurement of all 23 items of equipment to be provided to the Indian Army for disaster response purposes in the region.
MSRTC bus fitted with AI-based security systems unveiled; to ply on Thane-Nagpur route
Meanwhile, Maharashtra's state-run transport utility MSRTC on Wednesday unveiled a new ordinary non-AC 'smart' bus equipped with digital and safety features designed to improve both passenger security and driver efficiency, including a system that will warn about possible collision, reported the PTI.
In a release, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) said Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in the presence of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who is also chairman of the state-run utility, inspected the AI-equipped 'smart' bus in Thane, according to the PTI.
The release highlighted that the bus, which will ply on the Thane-Nagpur route, was fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that will warn about possible crash, pedestrian collision alert, lane change warning and the driver monitoring for signs of fatigue or inebriation.
Blind spot cameras in the bus will provide a full 360-degree view using four strategically placed external cameras (front, rear, left, and right), while the vehicle also has video surveillance facility, the release said.
The passenger counting sensor in the bus automatically tracks the number of people boarding and alighting, and a driver assistance screen offers real-time visual feeds to support safer navigation. The buses also feature a mobile NVR (network video recorder) system with 4G connectivity and GPS for real-time tracking and secure data storage.
For clear communication and information, three external LED screens display route details, complemented by an internal LCD screen for in-bus advertising and route information have been installed. A public address system has been installed for safety and emergency announcements, besides a foam-based fire prevention system, it said, the news agency reported on Wednesday.
"The safety of common passengers travelling in State Transport Corporation buses is the top priority. The new bus, fitted with AI-based security systems, will provide a much safer travel experience for the public," a release quoted Deputy CM Shinde as saying during the inspection, according to the PTI.
The release said with the MSRTC catering to over 55 lakh passengers daily, the smart bus's introduction mark a major leap in the modernisation of public transport infrastructure in Maharashtra.
(with PTI inputs)
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