Udupi: Udupi district police will soon move towards a contactless system of traffic violation monitoring by installing around 150 surveillance cameras across key junctions and highways within the next three months. The move is aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement and reducing direct on-road interception by officers.
Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said the cameras will be placed at busy traffic junctions along National Highways and other high-risk locations across the district where accident rates and rule violations are higher.
The automated system will enable authorities to detect and record violations such as rash and negligent driving, signal jumping, and driving without wearing seatbelts.
Focus on automated, contactless enforcement
Police said the upcoming system will function on the lines of traffic automation models already in place in larger cities. Once operational, violations captured on camera will be processed digitally, and notices or fines will be issued without physical stoppage of vehicles in most cases.
“We will have a separate traffic automation centre. Like in Mangaluru, traffic violation enforcement will be contactless shortly,” SP Hariram Shankar said.
The proposed automation centre will receive live feeds and violation data from multiple camera points, enabling centralised monitoring and faster processing of offences. Officials said this approach improves transparency, reduces roadside congestion caused by manual checks, and ensures consistent enforcement.
Funded through road safety grants
Authorities said the camera installation project will be funded through road safety funds provided by both the Central and State governments. These dedicated funds are meant specifically for measures that reduce accidents and improve enforcement infrastructure.
The cameras will include intelligent traffic monitoring units capable of capturing number plates and recording violation evidence. The exact mix of automated enforcement cameras and supporting equipment will be finalised based on junction type and traffic density.
Police said priority will be given to accident-prone stretches and high-volume junctions along National Highway 66 and other major corridors passing through the district.
Additional CCTV support from business community
Apart from traffic enforcement cameras, additional regular CCTV cameras will also be installed at crucial public locations across the district to strengthen general surveillance and safety monitoring.
The Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has contributed funds towards this broader CCTV installation drive, SP Shankar said. These cameras will support crime prevention, incident review, and public safety management in commercial and crowded areas.
Officials noted that integration of traffic and general surveillance feeds will improve situational awareness for law enforcement.
New traffic signals at key junctions
Udupi City Municipal Council is also set to install new traffic signals at two of the town’s busiest entry-exit junctions — Ambagilu and Balaipadi — within the next two weeks. Both junctions connect Udupi town to National Highway 66 and witness heavy daily traffic flow.
These junctions have recorded a higher number of accidents in recent years. At present, police are managing movement using barricades and manual regulation during peak hours.
According to SP Shankar, the new signals will regulate highway traffic with timed stoppages. Vehicles on NH-66 will be halted for about two minutes per cycle at these junctions to allow safer cross movement from town roads.
Provision has also been made for pedestrians. Around 20 seconds per cycle is proposed as pedestrian crossing time at both Ambagilu and Balaipadi signals.
More signals planned across district
Udupi police said similar traffic signal systems will be introduced at other busy junctions across the district in a phased manner. Locations identified include:
- Akashvani Junction in Brahmavar
- Moor Kai Junction in Kota
- Padubidri Junction
- Sangam Junction in Kundapura
These junctions have been flagged for structured signal control due to rising traffic volume and safety concerns.
Officials said signalisation, combined with automated camera enforcement, is expected to significantly improve junction discipline and reduce collision risk.
Push for safer roads through technology
Udupi district police emphasised that the shift towards camera-based, contactless enforcement represents a broader move towards technology-driven road safety management. Automated detection reduces human error, ensures uniform penalty application, and creates a digital evidence trail for every violation.
Authorities believe that once motorists become aware of widespread camera monitoring, compliance with helmet, seatbelt, and signal rules will improve.
The camera installation and signal projects are expected to be rolled out in phases over the coming months, with the first set of systems going live as equipment and control infrastructure are readied.