Mumbaiites, breaking traffic rules? Cameras are watching you

The Mumbai traffic police last year sent a proposal for 500 enforcement cameras to detect traffic violations such as speeding, jumping signal, riding without helmets, among others.

The traffic department will on Tuesday get CCTV cameras to check violations by vehicles.

The Mumbai traffic police last year sent a proposal for 500 enforcement cameras to detect traffic violations such as speeding, jumping signal, riding without helmets, among others. The Eastern Freeway is already equipped with these cameras. The advanced cameras will help the traffic police identify the registration number plate of vehicles, as its recording quality is superior to the normal CCTV cameras.

Once the violation is recorded, the registration number of the vehicle will be fished out from the database and an e-challan will be sent to the owner.

The system is in practice in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. In India, Delhi and neighbouring Navi Mumbai has started the e-challan system.

Traffic police officers said they have taken the data of the past three years from the regional transport office. Traffic policemen were posted at 223 petrol pumps across the city in August to collect details of the vehicles stopping for refueling at the pump stations. The data collected throughout the month will also be fed into the traffic department’s system to enable the enforcement camera system, a senior officer said.

The police have also approached the taximen’s association, Uber, Ola, petrol pumps and parking lots in the malls.