The automatic number plate recognition cameras currently functional at five traffic signals have been repositioned at fixed on the top to detect the rear number plate of vehicles.
Cameras at 15 more signals in to detect traffic violations in Coimbatore
Installations completed; connectivity works are on
The automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera network in Coimbatore city will soon be expanded from the existing five traffic signals to 20 with a focus to tackle common traffic violations.
While ANPR cameras were installed at five signals from JM Bakery junction to Lakhsmi Mills junction coming under Traffic East division, the expanded network will cover six more junctions in Traffic East division and nine junctions falling under Traffic West division.
The 20 traffic junctions on major stretches like Avinashi Road, Tiruchi Road and Mettupalayam Road were chosen to create the network based on various factors including vehicle movement.
“These 20 signals witness around 70 % of the vehicular movement in Coimbatore city. The installations of cameras have been completed at these places and connectivity works are going on,” said Shyam Jude J. of Coimbatore-based Analogue and Digital Labs, who is working with police and Uyir, a people’s initiative against road traffic accidents, in modernising the traffic signals.
Some changes have also been made in the positioning of the cameras at these junctions. The cameras were earlier fixed on a pole at the centre of the junction facing the front side of the vehicles at the five signals. Now, they have been fixed on the horizontal poles of the signals to see the number plate in the rear side of the vehicles.
Unlike the old arrangement, this one will not detect stop line violation.
The cameras were repositioned following the suggestion from City Police Commisssioner Sumit Sharan who felt that stop line violation was not a life threatening one unlike jumping red signal which can lead to fatal accidents. Also, the ANPR cameras were generating challans in bulk numbers for stop line violation which police were unable to serve to the violators due to manpower constraints.
“The current positioning of the cameras will detect jumping red signal, riding two-wheeler without wearing helmet and triple riding. Improvements will also be done to the network to detect other violations too,” said Mr. Jude.
He said that efforts were being made to access vehicle registration data from the National Informatics Centre. This would help the system identify registration numbers of outstation vehicles too.
The integration works were expected to be completed soon.
When fully functional, the cameras at the 20 junctions are expected to generate 4,000 challans a day, fine amount of which will be ₹ 4 lakh. In a month, challans worth ₹ 1.2 crore can be generated. So far, Uyir has spent ₹ 2.5 crore for the equipment and installation works.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-in-charge) P. Perumal said that the new network would definitely help police tackle traffic violations and also prevent and detect crimes.
“The presence of the advanced cameras and the generation of fine will make a deterrent effect on violators,” he said.
As part of expanding the network and improve its functionality, two control rooms will be created at the offices of the Assistant Commissioners of Police (Traffic) at West and East divisions. Earlier, the plan was to link feeds from the network to the control room located at the office of the City Police Commissioner.
The ANPR cameras fixed at GKNM Hospital junction have been removed and fixed at Nava India junction.