Traffic police to introduce infrared speed cameras

Less than three months since it ran a trial and later dumped the project to install speed cameras along several roads where motorists tend to speed, Delhi traffic police have come up with yet another plan. Subhendu Ray reports.

Less than three months since it ran a trial and later dumped the project to install speed cameras along several roads where motorists tend to speed, Delhi traffic police have come up with yet another plan.

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The department has proposed to introduce speed radars or interceptors that can guage vehicular speed even during the night. The existing speed radars need bright sunlight to measure the speed of a vehicle. The plan, however, is not new. The traffic police have been planning to introduce hi-tech interceptors but the plan never reached the execution level.

"This time the project will happen," assured Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

"We will soon invite tenders for the new interceptors. Within three months they will replace the existing ones that only function during bright daylight," he said.

The traffic police are now examining the functioning of the speed interceptors that can reportedly intercept speed of vehicles even during zero visibility. The performance, so far, has been satisfactory, said a traffic police officer.

The police said the new age speed interceptors use infrared laser beam for long distance, rapid and accurate measurement of speed and the in-built digital video recording system enable unambiguous identification of the target vehicle.

Traffic police has initially planned to purchase 10 laser based speed radars that run on infrared technology. Each unit is likely to cost about Rs 6 lakh.