Surveillance: Manual checking still on in city

The 320 surveillance cameras installed at various parts of the city seem not enough to catch the violators of traffic rules and the City Police are still continuing with manual checking to prevent errant motorists from evading their net.

Police-checking is now a usual scene in places like Pallimukku, Vettamukku, Poojappura, Kaimanam etc. But the police officials say that there is nothing wrong in the manual checking, which they had never stopped, and that it is essential in places where cameras have not been installed. The only difference is that manual checking is now done more rigorously.

 “We had never stopped manual checking. It must continue. It is a message to the people that obeying traffic rules is important. Also, in places like Valiyathura, Vizhinjam, Thiruvallom, Mannanthala, Sreekariyam, Thumba etc, where there are no cameras, manual checking is the only option left,” says Deputy Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Putta Vimaladitya.

 “When the police went slow on checking on the roads, at least a section of the people had the feeling that the police are not much serious about traffic rule violations. So, we decided to continue it in a more rigorous manner,” says another officer with the City Police. 

 However, the police officials assert that the surveillance cameras are working very efficiently and fining people who are caught on the cameras was getting a very good response. “As many as 150 people are turning up at the Traffic police station every day for remitting fines,” says the DCP.

 The police officials also say that ninety per cent of the people who are fined are keen to remit the fine, so that it cannot be said that the functioning of the cameras is not efficient. The change of address provided by the vehicle owners at the Motor Vehicles Department is only thing stands in the way of imposing fines as some people do not update the data.

 The 320 cameras were installed in various parts of the city in two phases, 192 in the first and the rest in the second. Meanwhile, the third phase of installation of cameras is also on its way.