The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) is all set to hand over the control of surveillance cameras at major junctions on National Highways to the city police.
The move comes at a time when cameras installed by the MVD at major junctions, including Vyttila, Kundannoor and Edappally, with the technical assistance of Keltron, have turned dysfunctional due to road works by the Public Works Department (PWD) or metro rail works.
“The constant digging up of roads leads to snapping of wires and loops, disrupting camera operations. After restoring the cameras, their control will be handed over to the police for better utilisation as per a decision reached by the Road Safety Authority since the police control and regulate traffic at junctions as the situation demands. Henceforth, MVD will focus on cameras installed to detect breaking of speed regulations,” said M. Suresh, Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement).
The non-functioning of cameras at junctions has reflected in the drop in registration of cases for traffic signal violations.
The MVD has installed 201 surveillance cameras along the National Highway stretching between Cherthala and Kasaragod handled through a control room set up at Kakkanad. Out of these, around 20 cameras are mounted at junctions.
All the 99 cameras installed by the city police across the length and breadth of the city have fallen into disrepair. According to police sources, the cameras have turned dysfunctional owing to the absence of an annual maintenance contract with Keltron.
“Apart from checking traffic violations, the cameras used to play a significant role in dealing with law and order situations and providing vital clues in thefts and chain snatching cases,” said Ammose Mammen, Assistant Commissioner, Police Control Room.
