Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Transport Department has made seatbelts and surveillance cameras mandatory for issuing fitness certificates for heavy vehicles. The order will be effective in the state from November 1. The order is applicable to all heavy vehicles, including stage carriers and KSRTC buses.

The seat belt directive applies to drivers and front occupants of buses and helpers in heavy vehicles but does not extend to passengers on buses. The cameras should be installed inside and outside vehicles.

Earlier, the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) issued an order making seatbelts and cameras inside and outside stage carriages mandatory from November 1. Following this, the players approached the department, urging that the order should be made applicable only from the date of issuing the fitness certificate after November 1.