El Salvador is moving forward with a nationwide plan to install GPS tracking systems and security cameras on public buses, marking a new phase in the country’s transportation modernization efforts. The initiative is part of a broader security strategy designed to ensure that safety improvements remain sustainable over time while improving service quality for daily commuters.

During an interview on Punto de Vista with Radio YSKL, Vice Minister of Transportation Nelson Reyes confirmed that the project has already been awarded and preparations are underway to begin installing the equipment. “The project has already been awarded and preparations have started to install video surveillance equipment in different public transportation units. This will be of great help to public security forces,” Reyes said.

For the first time, authorities will have full access to real-time surveillance data from buses operating across the country. While some private operators have previously used similar devices, the new system will centralize information under government monitoring. GPS technology will allow officials to verify actual routes, confirm whether buses are operating as scheduled, and strengthen overall oversight of the public transportation network.

According to transportation authorities, the first cameras are expected to be installed in July, beginning in the San Salvador Metropolitan Area before expanding nationwide. The Transportation and Emergency Monitoring Center will oversee the system, integrating it with traffic light operations across more than 300 intersections in the capital to improve traffic flow and emergency response coordination.

The government of President Nayib Bukele continues to position transportation reform as a pillar of its public safety and modernization agenda. Officials say collaboration with private sector bus operators will be key to ensuring that Salvadoran families benefit from safer, more reliable public transportation services.