No money to print 120 crores worth of challan; AI cameras will stop completely if KSEB pulls fuse

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The operation of AI cameras installed at the cost of crores to detect road traffic violations and issue fines has stopped partially. As the government did not pay, Keltron began withdrawing staff from road camera control rooms. The sending of notices by post was stopped last month.

Last week, Keltron withdrew 50 of the 140 people assigned to the control rooms of the Motor Vehicles Department to check the footage provided by the cameras and send fine notices and messages. The reason is that the condition that Rs 11.79 crore should be handed over to Keltron every three months for the price of the camera and the operating cost was not met. The first two instalments are due.

120 crore worth of penalty challan was sent to the vehicle owners in the first 3 months. 35 crores of this has reached the exchequer. 120 crore worth of challan from September to the end of November was ready in the control room but it was not sent as there was no money to print it and send it.

Control rooms will have to be shut down if this is the situation. The electricity bills for the control rooms are yet to be paid. According to the contract, the company has to pay the electricity bill dues. However, the company is unable to do so as the government is not paying. If KSEB pulls the fuse of the control rooms, the AI ​​cameras will stop functioning completely. The earlier stand of the Motor Vehicle Department was that it is enough to pay Keltron after preparing the comprehensive agreement. The final agreement is yet to be ratified. The position taken by Minister Ganesh Kumar in the coming days will be decisive in this regard.