E-challans from today as AI traffic mgmt system kicks in

PANAJI: Goa police and the transport department will start issuing fines for traffic violations in the state capital using the artificial intelligence-based cameras and camera-mounted speed radars from Thursday, said transport minister Mauvin Godinho.
Godinho, who handed over 10 speed radars to Goa police, said that the speed radars and the AI traffic management system are equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software that can identify the owner of the vehicle and generate a challan for over speeding.
"From June 1, the AI cameras that have been installed by PWD - they selected the agencies - will become operational. They had some hitch because of the high traffic flow, but now I think they have pulled up their socks. We will know who jumped the queue, the signal, or violated any traffic norm. These are high resolution cameras," said Godinho.
The speed radars can function during day and night and can track a vehicle upto a distance of 200m in good visibility.
The transport department has procured 10 portable LaserTrac radars at a cost of Rs 73 lakh and the company that provided the radars has already trained Goa police personnel to use the equipment. Goa police now has 14 speed radars that can be deployed anywhere in the state to catch speeding motorists by surprise.
"We are also in the process of procuring 70 alcometers and breath analysers, which should be here in two weeks or a month, and they will be handed over to the police," said Godinho.
He said that several measures are being taken to improve road safety and reduce the number of accident prone zones. Around 70 locations have been identified where motorists have been found speeding.
"Road safety is important and it is high time that we took steps. We want to get discipline on the roads. In 2022, there were 3,007 accidents and 251 deaths, which is so high. Good roads does not mean driving at high speed and knocking down people. There are accidents everyday and this is a very unhappy picture," said Godinho.
He said that despite the higher fines imposed under the new MV Act, violators continue to speed and drive rashly.
"Right now, implementation will be around Panaji, but we have identified 70 other locations based on data that we are analysing and where the cameras are required. This number will only increase and we will put cameras," said Godinho.
He also said that automated driving tests will be intro