CCTV cameras to nab traffic rule violators

Patna: Closed-circuit television cameras will finally be used to crack down on traffic rule violators in the city, like they are for most metros including Delhi and Calcutta. From June 8, the transport department, the district administration and the traffic police will launch the system under which residents will receive the notice of the fine at home if they jump signals, over-ride the zebra crossing, not wear seatbelts or violate other traffic rules.

Transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal will hold a meeting with Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi, traffic superintendent of police P.N. Mishra along with district transport officer (DTO) Ajay Kumar Thakur on the implementation of the system on June 5.

“I have called the meeting of the Patna DM, the SP (traffic) and the Patna DTO in which the system of checking violators with the help of CCTV would be handed over to the district administration. The system will come into effect from June 8,” Agarwal told The Telegraph.

The system, called Automatic Number Plate Recognition System, has been installed at all the 57 traffic junctions in the state capital. The system also takes a photograph of the number plates of vehicles that violate traffic rules.

“(Curbing of) signal jumping and overshooting zebra crossing are the first priority and for the seatbelt drive our officials would be deputed at the traffic control room to monitor the movement of vehicles. They can zoom in to check whether the driver and the person sitting in the front seat are wearing seatbelts. People usually flee after violating rules, but now they will get the fine notice at their homes,” Agarwal said.

The system will also end accidents that occur when cops try to stop speeding vehicles that try to flee.

Agarwal said the system would only work in Patna because there are no traffic lights in any other districts of Bihar.

Anyone who violates the zebra crossing or jumps a signal will have to pay a fine of Rs 600 and repeat offenders – who violate rules more than five times – have their licence cancelled.

The fine notice will be sent by post and if the email id is available a mail would be sent. A call will be made as well to the violator’s number.

The old registered numbers do not have email id in the records of the transport department.

The traffic cops had for the last six months carried out an awareness campaign on obeying traffic signals and not overshooting the zebra crossing. Banners of the traffic police like “Do Not Kill My Lovely Zebra” can still be seen.

Courtesy: The Telegraph