Hasten putting up CCTV cameras on E-way: HC

The Bombay high court has directed the state to expedite the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The state has also been asked to ensure that heavy vehicles without proper indicators are not allowed to ply on the expressway. 

In view of the increasing number of accidents occurring on the stretch, a division bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice AP Bhangale directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the government to install the CCTV cameras as soon as possible, so that surveillance on the stretch can be improved.

Expedite the proposal and get CCTVs installed. This will ease the workload of the police,” said Justice Khanwilkar.

The state’s Advocate General, Darius Khambata, informed the court that the MSRDC, which overlooks the maintenance of Mumbai-Pune expressway will soon submit a proposal to the government for allocation of funds. The cost of the project is approximately Rs37 crore.

“The plan is to install fewer cameras with a higher range. These would cover the entire Mumbai-Pune expressway. These cameras would be attached to the main control room at Lonavala, where they will be monitored,” said Khambata.

It was also brought to the court’s notice that a majority of the accidents taking place on the expressway are caused by heavy vehicles which do not have proper indicators.

Therefore, the court has asked the government to appoint someone at toll nakas to check the indicators of the vehicles passing by. “In case the vehicle does not have proper indicators, do not let it ply on the expressway,” directed the court.
Khambata also suggested that there was proposal to install chips in the number plates of vehicles.

In case the vehicle violates any law, then the details would be sent to the main server and the penalty amount would be directly debited from the vehicle owner’s bank account. “However, the technology for this is not yet available,” he said.

@DNA