Coimbatore: In a first-ever initiative of its kind in India, a meeting regarding installation of modern 'smart cameras' at road junctions was held in the city's Ganga Hospital Auditorium on Mettupalayam Road.
Coimbatore: In a first-ever initiative of its kind in India, modern 'smart cameras' will be installed across major road junctions in the City.
At a meeting convened by representatives of NGO 'UYIR' on Thursday at Ganga Hospital Auditorium here, District Police Commissioner, Sumit Saran IPS and Executive Trustees of 'UYIR' Trust, Dr.S. Rajasekaran and others took part.
"With increased vehicular movement in the city, accidents are on a rise. According to reports, shockingly, in every three minutes, one person dies of a road accident. And, most of the accident victims are between the age group 15 to 45", said Dr. S. Rajasekaran, Managing Trustee of UYIR.
He also threw light on the statistics of road accidents in the past five years. "Tamil Nadu holds an unenviable third position in road accidents. Almost 70 percent of accidents had turned fatal. Sadly, most accidents reported were due to traffic violations and not wearing safety gears like helmet or a seat belt", he noted.
"In a bid to reduce road accidents in the city, NGO UYIR along with Coimbatore City Polive installed five modern 'smart cameras' in traffic junctions between J.M signal and Lakshmi Mills signal", Dr. Rajasekaran added.
He also apprised that over the next three months, UYIR plans to install 35 more cameras at traffic signals across the city. The cameras have helped the police department to pinpoint traffic offenders, he said.
Dr. Rajasekaran also revealed that "A study by UYIR and City Police showed that nearly 45% of the accidents occurred in only 40 locations mainly on the arterial roads such as Avanashi Road, Trichy Road, Mettupalayam Road, Sathyamangalam Road, Pollachi Road and Palghat Road. If traffic signals at these locations could be monitored, accidents could be curtailed."
"The state-of-the-art cameras are equipped with latest technology and are capable of recording minute details accurately like the number plate of the vehicle, facial recognition of the driver, place and time. These recordings will be sent and stored at the control room of the Coimbatore Traffic Police. Upon traffic violations, the traffic police can retrieve details of the flouting vehicle accurately", said Sumit Sharan, Commissioner of Police.
The Commissioner also advised the people to cooperate with traffic rules to reduce road accidents. "Around 150 violations were reported through the camera installed between JM Bakery and Lakshmi Mills. Based on the intensity of the violation, challans were generated to the vehicle owners. Repeat offenders will be dealt strictly", he opined.
About UYIR
Understanding the fact that the Road Safety is not only the shared concern but also the shared responsibility of the Government and a range of civil society stakeholders including Industries Media, NGOs and every common man in the society, "Uyir” is a Non-Governmental Organization, with the mission of making Coimbatore an accident free Society and formed by the Industrialists and well known like-minded people of Coimbatore.
UYIR” was launched and inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Thiru.Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the presence of Honourable Minister Thiru.S.P.Velumani, Minister for Municipal Administrations, Rural Development and Implementation of Special Programmes on 27 November, 2018 at CODISSIA.
UYIR Organization has formed a Trust with an apex body members from different Top Institutions, Corporate and Organizations join together and working towards one GOAL that is to make every one realize the “VALUE OF LIFE”.
The Following programmes been carried out after the launch, Road Awareness campaign at Avinashi Road and MTP Road by college vertical, Mini Marathon on Road Safety by Health Care vertical, Installation and Activation of electro and mechanical items ( NPR Cameras , CCTV,Barricades,Markings etc)- Worth of Rs.4.5 Crores at 10 main Roads and 40 Junctions by Industry Vertical of Uyir.