THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The road camera project, mired in corruption and ambiguity, will continue to be frozen. The new decision is that the preparation of a comprehensive agreement regarding the AI camera project, which has become a problem for the government due to controversy, needs to be completed only within the next three months. A high-level meeting chaired by Transport Minister Antony Raju also decided to extend the freeze on collection of fines using AI cameras till June 4. The current decision is to levy the fine from June 5. The government is moving to issue an order for this. There are also concerns about whether it will be effective.

The government had decided to freeze the project on May 4. This was reported by Kerala Kaumudi the next day. The decision of the high level meeting held yesterday confirms this. The move to overturn the freeze has also been stalled for the time being.

Yesterday's decision to proceed with the comprehensive settlement process within three months of the initiation of the fine collection process was a wise one. The government can extend the contract process again. It was also agreed in the meeting to review the contracts given by Keltron and the agreement between Keltron and the Department of Motor Vehicles. After that, the transport department will prepare a comprehensive agreement. This agreement will be executed only after obtaining the approval of the finance and legal departments.

From May 5, awareness notices were started for traffic violations.

Controversies regarding subcontracts awarded by Keltron also sparked a heated discussion at the meeting. Transport Commissioner S Sreejith explained that there was no failure on the part of the Motor Vehicle Department. Transport department officials and Keltron officials participated in the meeting held yesterday.

Government's headache

1. Prakash Babu, the father-in-law of the Chief Minister's son, is alleged to have links with Presadio Technologies, a company that subcontracted Keltron.

2. The opposition released the documents that the agreement is to pay Rs 232.5 crores within five years but only Rs 86 crores was spent on installing the AI camera.

3 Cameras reportedly not worth Rs 1 Lakh, mysterious sub-contracts and difference in purchasing rates