High-end surveillance cameras to be operational soon on Kozhikode bypass

The high-end surveillance cameras recently installed on the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass road will be functional in a week to keep an eye on traffic rule violations.

A control room will be opened soon at the toll plaza near Mampuzha to closely monitor the visuals being captured using fixed vision and rotation cameras that have automatic number plate recognition features. 

Trial runs done

According to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) sources, the 28.7-km stretch will have 47 cameras. Multiple trial runs have already been completed by a competent agency to check their proper functioning and efficacy in covering even service roads, they said.

“The camera network had been disabled on the route for several months following the six-laning works. Both the police and the Motor Vehicles department would be able to track road offences, including speed limit violations and other crimes, with the newly installed surveillance network,” said an engineer who was part of the supervision works. He said the cameras were chosen after thoroughly reviewing the features of the terrain to ensure flawless clarity. 

A technical team entrusted with the trial run had already cleared the network issues of some of the previously installed cameras. The control room would be arranged in such a way as to keep the live feeds for 15 days. Enforcement squads would be able to access them in case of any major crimes and accidents as strong digital evidence, they said.

Reckless entry, exit

Police officers with the highway patrol squad said reckless entry and exit through unpermitted areas without properly observing the advanced signage would be treated as a major offence and safety hazard. Incidents of speed limit violations and the dangerous shifting of tracks creating obstruction to fellow motorists would be dealt with hefty fines and other instant legal actions, they said.

Police sources also confirmed that more surveillance cameras would be considered along the service roads on completion of the six-laning works in Kozhikode district. Option to link them with the City police control room would make it further attractive for the enforcement squads to enable 24×7 real-time vehicle tracking and combat anti-social elements, they said.