Chennai: In a first of its kind, the state transport department is poised to implement ‘advanced automated surveillance system’ along the National Highways (NH-45) stretch between Chengalpattu and Tiruchy for a distance of 280 km.
State transport minister M.R. Vijaya Baskar made the announcement here on Tuesday. Briefing the media, he said, “It is a fact that road accident cases in the state have considerably dropped. To reduce such accidents further, we will soon implement such system like foreign countries to cut the number of accidents.”
The cost for this project will be Rs 25 crore and the government had already allotted funds, he added.
Stating that such system will pave the way for reducing speed and traffic violations, the minister said “the automated cameras will instill a sense of fear among traffic violators and thus safety of passengers will be ensured.” When asked about particular selection of route, the minister described the route of Chengalpattu and Tiruchy NH as ‘accident-prone zone’.
To a question, the minister replied, electric buses will soon be introduced soon. Welcoming the move, Aswathy Dilip, programme manager, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) said, “It is a step in the right direction, as such move will zero in on traffic violators and high-speed in the National Highways.” However, the officials should turn their focus on road infrastructure so that accidents would decrease, she suggested.
