THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has been accused of irregularities of over Rs 150 crore behind the AI camera scheme implemented with the help of Keltron to detect traffic violations in the state and impose heavy fines. During the first Pinarayi government in 2017, the Keltron project of 75 crores submitted to the transport department, rose to 232 crores after six years. The controversy is that the transport department and the cabinet approved it with a blind eye. Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala brought up the issue.

In 2017, Keltron submitted a proposal to the Department of Motor Vehicles to implement the AI camera project for Rs 75 crore, in collaboration with a private sub-contracting company in Bengaluru. The head of the department at that time refused the proposal, seeing that the amount was too high. The same project was later resubmitted by Keltron for Rs 153 crore, but the subcontractor backed out due to a dispute over profit sharing. Finally, Rs 92 crore was increased to make the project worth Rs 245 crore and it was approved by the Transport Department and submitted to the Cabinet for approval months ago. Later the project amount was reduced to 232.25 crores. The sub-contract is to a company called SRIT. Keltron, which initially claimed to have installed its own cameras, came forward after the huge amount was questioned and admitted to subcontracting the project to a private company.

An imposture of the SIMS project?

Those at the head of the police are in doubt that the SIMS camera project, which was prepared by the police during the previous government's time to make profits for private companies by installing cameras in houses, banks, and private institutions, has changed its name and reached the motor vehicle department.

In the SIMS project, where CCTV cameras are installed and monitored from the police headquarters, the target was a camera business worth 15 crores. Thiruvananthapuram-based private company Galaxon International had been chosen to implement the project. Loknath Behra, who was the then DGP, gave the company the authority to enter and exit the control room of the police headquarters, which is a high-security area, according to their wish. The SIMS project was stopped by the government due to controversy including in the assembly. In that project too, Keltron's name was heard in the middleman role.

Artificial Intelligence?

The transport department claims that the camera works based on artificial intelligence, but the fines are prepared by the officials after checking the images that reach the control room. This is exactly the same way of charging fines as present, and normal traffic cameras do not cost even one lakh rupees.

Need answers

Was a tender called to install the AI cameras? How many companies participated?
What is the participation of private companies? How much is their profit margin?
Why was the contract awarded to Keltron, who subcontracts the project to other companies?
Why are Keltron and the government reluctant to release project documents?

Amount was increased considering maintenance charges: Keltron

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keltron MD N Narayanamurthy said that the contract was awarded to a private company called SRIT in Bengaluru for the AI camera project as per the rules and it is a company with previous experience in this field. He said that raising the project cost to Rs 232 crore is a misunderstanding and this amount is the total cost after adding five years of maintenance fees. The project amount was 235 crore from the beginning. The project amount was originally 235 crores and after negotiations, it was lowered to 232 crores. The contract was awarded to the Bengaluru-based company to supply the camera manufacturing equipment and install the cameras. The process was done through an e-tender. An agreement was signed with the Transport Commissioner in 2020 and the tender was called based on this MoU. The minimum amount was quoted by SRIT which was 232 crore, including maintenance cost of Rs 66 crore and GST.