Colva: Introduced as a technology-driven solution to curb road accidents and improve traffic discipline in Goa, newly installed AI-powered traffic surveillance cameras are themselves raising safety concerns, with several units hanging from poles and, in some cases, pointing towards the ground instead of monitoring traffic.The Goa transport department, in coordination with the public works department (PWD), installed AI-enabled traffic signals equipped with smart surveillance cameras at 92 locations across the state. Designed to operate round the clock, the cameras automatically detect a range of traffic violations.However, at a few locations, the cameras are hanging precariously from poles, rendering them ineffective.Sources said the issue has been brought to the contractor’s notice, but corrective action is yet to be taken, compromising the effectiveness of the surveillance network.
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South Goa superintendent of traffic Rajendra Prabhudessai said the traffic cell’s role was limited to identifying locations for the installation of traffic signals. The project, he said, was executed by the PWD, the regional transport office (RTO) and the contractor, Beltec.Prabhudessai acknowledged that at least two AI cameras in Colva are currently facing the ground instead of monitoring traffic. He said the traffic cell has already informed the RTO, which is coordinating directly with the contractor for repairs.Assistant director of transport Nixon Soares said the traffic cell also communicates directly with the contractor. However, he said he was unaware whether his office had received any formal communication from the traffic cell regarding the malfunctioning cameras.Soares said that in one instance, a vehicle rammed into a pole, causing a camera to tilt downwards. As the contractor is based outside Goa, the damaged units are likely to be repaired during its scheduled maintenance visit.While the AI surveillance project marks a significant step towards modernising traffic enforcement in the state, the sight of newly installed cameras hanging from poles has raised concerns over workmanship, response time and the long-term upkeep of the infrastructure.
Sources said the issue has been brought to the contractor’s notice, but action is yet to be taken
