Thiruvananthapuram: The 'Suraksha Mitr' website of the Motor Vehicle Department that is used to track the GPS in vehicles and transfer the data into the 'Parivahan' site has stopped working. As a result, GPS added to new vehicles cannot be linked to the Parivahan site and the monitoring of the existing GPS cannot be properly carried out.

The Motor Vehicles Department explained that the problem was caused by a server failure. It is also learned that the company providing the service did not receive the payment from the department following which the service was suspended. However, the authorities denied these allegations. 

According to the new regulations published by the Central Government, the GPS is mandatory for all goods and transport vehicles except small goods vehicles such as goods autorickshaws. Once the covid restrictions were eased, more vehicles started fitting GPS. Also the old GPS installed in vehicles need to be certified and updated. However, this is also not possible right now. The issues with the website are affecting both the MVD employees and vehicle owners.