AI cameras ready but no fines for now in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched 726 road surveillance cameras powered by artificial intelligence, envisaged to reduce road accidents and prevent traffic violations, in the state. The penalties for rule violations, however, will not be levied for a month and instead, awareness programmes will be conducted.
Transport minister Antony Raju said the AI cameras would bring transparency in levying of fines.The speed limit for vehicles will be revised in the event of road conditions improving in the state, he said. The CM said government was looking to improve road safety by installing these camer-as. The intention behind using modern technology for vehicle inspection is to reduce difficulties for the public, he added.
Though 726 road surveillance cameras powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology opened their eyes across the state on Thursday, penalties will not be slapped for rule violations for the next one month.
Transport minister Antony Raju said at the launch of the AI cameras that violations will not be penalized till May 19. He said in the next one month, awareness programmes will be conducted. In the event of the condition of the state's roads improving, speed limits will be revised. It is in the wake of many pointing out that no awareness campaign has been conducted that the transport department, with the CM's permission, decided to hold back slapping penalties for a month, he said, adding that with implementing AI cameras, treating law violations will become transparent as officials won't be able to slap fines of their choice.
Launching the cameras, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said the government is thinking of ways to improve road safety. No one should lose their lives or get injured on the road. As many as 85 squads, 99 motor vehicle inspectors, 225 assistant MVIs are functioning in 14 districts under the Safe Kerala project. With the project implementation, there has been some reduction in the death rate on the roads, he said.
The CM said police and MVD have been conducting vehicle inspections to reduce traffic violations. Though such inspections on roads are legal, on some occasions, it has been causing discomfort to the public. Under such circumstances, the government's intention is to utilize modern technology to reduce difficulties for the public.
With utilizing AI and automated number plate recognition system, traffic violations can be detected while ensuring hassle-free travel on the road by avoiding physical vehicle checking, said CM, adding that the government is thinking of coming up with more AI cameras in the coming years.