THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Home Department has approved the installation of surveillance cameras at the expense of private and public sector agencies to detect traffic violations. It also permitted to provide the agencies with a major share of the fines levied by the police on vehicle owners.

Meanwhile, the Motor Vehicles Department has installed 726 cameras for the same purpose for Rs 236 crore. The department estimates that the Rs 261 crore will be collected as fine in the first year. Police will not install private cameras at places where this camera system is located. Although the fines are levied by the police, the artificial intelligence cameras will be set up by private companies in such a way that they can recoup the maximum investment and reap the benefits. With this, people are sure to end up paying large sums as fines.

The order also directed that the fine received by the government should not be reduced and the revenue should be increased. Cameras will be installed in busy cities, major roads and junctions.

This is the first time that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) system has been implemented in the field of vehicle monitoring. The system is implemented under the name of Integrated Digital Traffic Enforcement System. In addition to the standard cameras, there is also a vehicle-mounted camera system. Maintenance works should be done by PPP entrepreneurs, including Including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

ADGP Manoj Abraham told 'Kerala Kaumudi' that 4,000 policemen in charge of vehicle inspections during the day could be shifted to other duties. Night inspections will be sufficient to detect drunken drivers.

Sharing 80:20
In the first year, the agencies and police will share the amount collected as fines in the ratio of 80:20. If a fine of Rs 100 is collected from an individual, Rs 80 would go to the agency and Rs 20 to the police. The share of the police will increase in the coming years.