manoj

In a city teeming with vehicles and unmindful pedestrians, you would think there would be hundreds of traffic offences being registered daily. But if you were to go by the close circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at key traffic junctions in South Mumbai, that figure stands at a paltry 30.

Speeding through a traffic signal, jaywalking and even assaulting traffic cops on duty are a common occurrence in South Mumbai where traffic congestion is at its peak throughout the day. Yet, CCTVs detected only 30 cases since September 2006.

“The figure is surprising,” says Nitin Dossa, chairman of the Western India Auto Association. “Between 200 to 500 traffic violations take place in the city everyday. I believe the system would work better by April after the remaining CCTV cameras are installed.”

Satish Mathur, joint commissioner of police (Traffic), says, “Most CCTV cameras are installed in South Mumbai areas such as CST, Churchgate, Century Bazaar, Dadar TT, including Dadar and Mahim junctions. Presently, there are 23 functional cameras in South Mumbai, and we are in the process of installing an additional 80 cameras in the suburbs.”

Traffic policemen are also being trained to operate the system. For instance, if the camera captures an image of a resident speeding through a stop signal, the Control Room immediately informs the traffic chowky about the incident.

Here is one instance where the CCTV came in handy. Recently, the camera proved a useful tool to the police when an irate man was caught on tape roughing up a traffic cop for doing his job.

According to the traffic police, the camera-toting reporter roughed up a constable when he was pulled aside at a Haji Ali signal for a traffic violation.

The man almost managed to get away scott-free after falsely claiming that the cop had roughed him up. However, the CCTV camera debunked his story after it caught him in the act of assaulting the constable and tearing off his own shirt to implicate the cop.

In the past few months, the police have tracked down several traffic violators based on their number plates caught on camera. They have been issued summons based on CCTV evidence.

Police say that the CCTV cameras have become useful tools in not only keeping vigil on sensitive areas but also nabbing culprits who flout traffic rules.

News Source

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