Udupi police moving towards ‘contactless’ monitoring of traffic violations

The other busy Balaipadi junction in Udupi Town where new traffic signal is set to come up shortly
| Photo Credit:
UMESH S. SHETTIGAR

Udupi police will move towards ‘contactless system’ of monitoring traffic violations by installing 150 surveillance cameras in another three months.

Violations such as rash and negligent driving, signal jumping and driving without wearing seatbelts will be monitored through the cameras.

Udupi Superintendent Police Hariram Shankar told The Hindu, that the cameras will be installed at busy traffic junctions along the National Highways, which have been witnessing more number of accidents, and other places across the district. Road safety funds provided by the Central and State Governments will be used to purchase and fix cameras.

“We will have a separate traffic automation centre. Like in Mangaluru, traffic violation enforcement will be ‘contactless’ shortly,” Mr. Shankar said.

In addition, regular CCTV cameras will also be installed at crucial places across the district for which Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has chipped in with funds, the SP said.

In another two weeks, the Udupi City Municipal Council will install new traffic signals at Ambagilu and Balaipadi traffic junctions, the two busy junctions through which vehicles enter and exit Udupi town from the National Highway 66. These two junctions have also seen more number of accidents and presently police have placed barricades to regulate traffic movement there.

Mr. Shankar said the two new traffic signals (at Ambagilu and Balaipadi) will hold traffic on the National Highway 66 for about two minutes. About 20 seconds is proposed for pedestrians to cross the Highway at those junctions.

Similar traffic signals will come up at Akashvani Junction in Brahmavar, Moor Kai Junction in Kota, Padubidri Junction and Sangam Junction in Kundapura, the SP said.