Faced with the superhuman task of policing over 13,000 km of roads with a little over 3,500 personnel, the Bangalore Traffic Police is turning to technology for assistance.
Between January and April this year, around half of all traffic violations have been booked with the assistance of surveillance cameras and handheld digital cameras issued to constables.
With a whopping 76.26 lakh violations booked last year, traffic police officers claim the city records the most number of violations across all major cities in the world.
This year so far, 31.49 lakh cases have been booked so far out of which 15.35 lakh cases have been done with the assistance of electronic gadgets.
The situation was different in 2007, when digital cameras and surveillance cameras contributed only 3.25 per cent of all cases booked.
The total violations recorded were also less, 9 years ago with only 14.44 lakh cases.
“More enforcement has been put on the outer ring roads, Ballari road, Mysore road and KR Puram as there are more cases in outlying areas,” said Additional Commissioner of Police R Hithendra.
Currently, the traffic police is managing this mammoth task with the help of 331 automated surveillance cameras which are monitored around the clock at the Traffic Management Centre control room.
Around 400 handheld cameras are also in use, officials said.
“We capture around 100 violations through the camera per day at this junction. These cameras help in recording proof of the rules being broken and the fine amount collected approximately is around Rs. 8,000 per day,” said a traffic constable stationed on Infantry Road.
Having seen the benefits of automated enforcement, the police is now looking to increase its technological capabilities in this field.
‘Continuously upgrading’
Officials said the department is continuously upgrading its infrastructure and procuring more cameras to be put into operation.
“As many as 100 new cameras have been installed across the city to complement the current lot. They are currently being brought online,” a senior police official said.
