Surveillance enhanced on B'luru-Mys highway

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Beware, you are under surveillance on this highway! Following the installation of Artificial Intelligence- based Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, the traffic police department has started issuing notices to owners of vehicles caught violating traffic rules while driving on the Bengaluru- Mysuru highway.

In the last 16 days, over 12,192 cases have been registered against motorists for various traffic offences, thanks to the robust surveillance systems on National Highway-275.

Taking to his X account on Friday, Karnataka Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Alok Kumar appreciated the effectiveness of the advanced surveillance system.

"No violator can escape the hawk eye of our powerful cameras on Bengaluru-Mysore Highway, whether it’s day or night," he said.

Apart from driving without a seatbelt, the most common violation detected by the surveillance system is use of mobile phones by drivers.

Beginning from May 1, the AI-based cameras have captured footage of drivers overspeeding,using mobile phones and driving without a seatbelt.

"People must think about their family and friends before driving in a reckless and negligent manner. The traffic rules are there for a reason," the Karnataka State Police posted on X.

Another senior official added that these cameras will detect the time taken for a vehicle to travel between two spots on the highway. "if it is lower than the permissible limits, that means the vehicle was traveling at high speed. The challan will be issued automatically,” explained a traffic official.

The maximum speed limit on the BengaluruMysuru highway is set at 100 kmph, and drivers are now required to maintain this average speed to avoid penalties. ADGP Alok Kumar adviced motorists to avoid using mobile phones while driving.

He further said that to enhance the safety of travellers, four highway patrol vehicles have been deployed, with two vehicles assigned to each division for enhanced monitoring.

The ADGP noted that on several occasions, staterun Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses had also travelled in the wrong direction on the highway. He ordered officials of KSRTC to take necessary action against the errant drivers for disregarding traffic rules.

Notices sent to violators

Notices under section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, have been generated and sent to violators. The notices require vehicle owners to report to the Traffic Management Center (TMC) along with the licence and other necessary documents within seven days of the notice sent by Karnataka State Police National Highway Lane Discipline.

The traffic department has warned that if the violators fail to appear before the police or clear their pending challans, they might be subjected to six months imprisonment or with fine which may extend to Rs 5000.

The 119-km highway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March last year and was constructed at a cost of Rs. 8,408 crore.

The highway has 11 overpasses, 64 underpasses, five bypasses, and 42 small bridges, with six lanes and additional two-lane service roads on both sides.