Six years on, traffic cops in Chennai yet to use CCTV cameras to nab violators

 

More often, the Chennai traffic police have cited staff shortage as a reason for their failure to crack down on serial traffic violators. While the department is indeed under staffed, it is yet to take advantage of CCTV cameras to nab culprits, as is the practice in several cities, even though in 2010 it had commissioned a Rs 3 crore project to install CCTV cameras across the city.

In response to an RTI application filed by OnlineRTI.com, the traffic police said: "There are no CCTV cameras installed by the traffic police functioning in the city . Installations of CCTV cameras are under progress in 40 junctions and (they are) yet to be functional."

In 2010, the traffic police awarded a tender to Lookman Electroplast Industries Limited to install and maintain CCTV cameras.

"We are yet to complete the work on the optical fibre network which will transmit footage from cameras to the control room. We have identified 121 junctions across the city that need CCTV surveillance," said a senior traffic police officer.

In Chennai, most of the CCTV cameras are installed by the law and order wing of police. They are used to divert vehicles for VIPs and never used to nab traffic offenders. CCTV cameras are installed at strategic locations and busy areas, including T Nagar for security purposes.