The Indian Express                20.08.2013

PMC to use cameras to check traffic violators

"The proposal was approved with majority vote as it is going to help discipline traffic in the city," said Vishal Tambe, chairperson of the standing committee. Under ITS project, the PMC had installed 120 cameras across the city at a cost of Rs 15.46 crore. The civic body has put up cameras that can record signal violation at 20 junctions. Ten cameras have been set up to check speed violation and the control room is at Swargate.

The work got over in 2008 and the contract for its maintenance for five years with the same firm is coming to an end.

However, there was no system in place to use the system and inculcate discipline among the vehicle users in the city, officials said.

As per the decision, a fine of Rs 200 for two-wheelers and Rs 500 for four-wheelers would be charged for violating speed limit or jumping red signal. The cameras installed have the capacity to record the vehicle movements and help note down the vehicle numbers.

The agency staff at the control room would dispatch notice to the vehicle owner for violation of the traffic rules and recover penalty. "Of the revenue collected, 30 per cent will go to the PMC while the 70 per cent would be with the agency. This ratio would increase in favour of PMC if large number of vehicles are caught violating traffic rules," Tambe said.

The civic body been had so far failed to start using the system as there was no pact on revenue sharing with the police.

Later it was decided that it would be implemented by appointing a private agency. But there was resistance from political parties, including the NCP.