City to get 190 more cameras

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police are planning to install 190 more surveillance cameras in the city so that violation of traffic rules could be brought down to the minimum. The successful functioning of 40 cameras installed at various traffic points two years ago has prompted the police to install more such equipment. The surveillance cameras, which have taken over half of the job of the Traffic Police, are registering a good ‘catch’ every day. Installed to nab those who break traffic rules, the number of violations recorded by the cameras is almost double that resulting from routine police checks. They are doing a good job by ‘catching’ around 250 persons every day who violate traffic rules like left-side overtaking, riding without wearing a helmet, rash driving etc. Among these, those who ride without a helmet contribute the maximum number of cases.  “In the next phase, 190 more cameras will be installed in every nook and corner of the city so that those ride in the bylanes too cannot evade them,”  Control Room Circle Inspector D Asokan told Express.  Notices are sent to the owners of the vehicles who are caught in the camera eyes to come to the police control room. In the control room, the police show them the visuals of their traffic rule violation and they can pay the fine in any branch of State Bank of Travancore. This kind of operation is convenient to the public also. At the sametime, the city cops are continuing their routine checking, which is also showing good results. “On an average, around 150 persons are caught for violating traffic rules. Among them also, cases of riding without helmet are the highest. In Thiruvananthapuram, only 70 per cent are wearing helmet, while in Kochi 90 per cent wear it,” said Traffic Assistant Commissioner City South, C Mohanan.  The routine checking got affected sometime back when politicians and media raised protest citing the inconvenience it caused to the public. But after a series of traffic awareness programmes, the city police have again started carrying out the routine checking in a more effective way. “We are aiming at nothing but the safety of those ride or drive. Until people themselves realise the importance of obeying traffic rules, we have to take strict measures,” said City Police Commissioner T J Jose.