Traffic cameras watching over city

For nearly a year now, bikers and motorists across the city have found that even if the friendly neighbourhood traffic constable is not watching, an electronic hawk eye is keeping strict vigil, stopping them from jumping that red light or taking a turn where it is not allowed.

Now, as the Mumbai Police Traffic Department readies to install the last of the 100 CCTV cameras, the good news from the hi-tech initiative is in: The 89 CCTV cameras already functional at key traffic junctions have played a big role in detecting as many as 30,000 violations.

These cameras mounted on traffic signals have cost the Traffic Department Rs 8 crore, and the officials say they have taken traffic monitoring to a much more effective level.

DCP (Traffic) Harish Baijal says, “We have planned for 100 CCTV cameras from Bosch with Zicom technology throughout the city. So far, 89 cameras are in use and fully operational. The cameras have immensely helped our department keep a close track on traffic situations in the city and to also monitor and identify minor traffic violations on the streets.”

In the CCTV control room at the Worli headquarters of the traffic police, a team of four constables keeps a constant watch on their computer screens, which display the feed from each of the 89 cameras located at different places.

“Just on Friday, our cameras caught a helmet-less biker waiting for a signal to change at Malad and by zooming in on his bike registration number, we managed to get his details. A summons will be sent to him tomorrow,” said Jaywant Kokte, one of the constables keeping a constant vigil on city traffic. “The cameras are useful in the sense that it gives us a bird’s eye view of everything happening within its scope and it becomes easier to keep a watch on the situation. A constable posted at the signal cannot see everything as he is standing on street level.”

The camera lens, which can see up to 1.5 kilometres and can rotate 360 degrees, is obviously a big hit with the traffic department. Another constable monitoring the camera visuals says, “The cameras are from Germany and are absolutely water-proof without any risk to the lens during monsoon. Even during nights, the images from the cameras are clear enough to make out the scenario on the streets. The cameras also proved useful during the recent bandh when there were chances of public disturbances and we used the cameras to identify places where there were mobs gathering for rasta rokos and other disturbances. These images helped us coordinate with the police controls and inform them about the situation on the streets and help maintain control,” said another constable.