Keltron stops printing challans for AI violations, AI camera in deathbed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keltron has stopped issuing fine challans for motor vehicle violations through AI cameras. This decision was taken considering the government's failure to pay the remaining arrears. Instead of postal notices, only e-mails are now being issued for traffic violations. So far, out of 339 crore violations found, only 62.5 crore have reached the exchequer.

By installing AI cameras, the government fancied collecting big sums from violators and invariably curbing traffic violations. They also planned to give a lion’s share of the amount collected to the contractor who installed the AI cameras across the state.

Even after 10 months, the AI camera has turned into a sham with the scheme entangled in corruption. When the AI camera fines started on June 5, the number of violations per month was one and a half lakh. Now it has burgeoned to four and a half to five lakhs.

Keltron's contract was to send 25 lakh notices per year. They surpassed this target at the start of April and now, they have written to the government demanding Rs 20 per notice. With the government not responding, Keltron stopped sending notices after apprising the transport commissioner about the dire straits. Now, if a violation is detected and approved by the officials of the motor vehicle department, only e-challan will be sent to the mobile. Alas, as the trend suggests, people normally ignore mobile messages and mostly won’t pay the fine.

Despite warnings from the government about strict measures for unpaid fines, violations are continuing in full swing.