Hidden cameras to capture traffic violators

KOCHI: The Motor vehicles department and the police department are going hi-tech to tackle  traffic violators in the city. In its drive against traffic offenders on city roads, the motor vehicles department is all set to bank heavily on surveillance system which will be introduced in the city shortly.The department claimed that it had been regularly conducting vehicle screening to detect traffic offenders. The hidden cameras would keep watch of the vehicles passing through important junctions in a couple of months.Though the police department had set up similar cameras at important junctions in the city, the data picked up by them was not shared with the motor vehicles department. “We are not getting any inputs from the cameras operated by the police. The move to help the motor vehicles department to set up their own high power cameras will add to its power,” Regional Transport Officer T J Thomas said.The motor vehicles department has already installed them in the state capital and is studying its effectiveness in curbing traffic violation. Kochi and Kozhikode are the other cities where hidden cameras will be installed, an official said.The cameras would be set up in five junctions in the city in the initial stage. The cameras in Kochi would be installed by Airtel.The feeds from the cameras would be monitored at the control room set up at the Deputy Commissioner’s office at the collectorate. The police department would also install similar cameras at important places in Kochi, 64 cameras to be precise.Keltron would be entrusted with the job of installing cameras for the police.Despite the police and the motor vehicles inspectors making efforts to fight traffic offence, erring drivers continue to have their way on the road.