Beware! CCTVs to now keep an eye on traffic violators at crossings

Kanpur: In a major step towards strengthening traffic management, the Kanpur Smart City project will install 65 new CCTV cameras at key crossings across the city at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore. The plan was disclosed by the Smart City nodal officer during a meeting chaired by municipal commissioner Arpit Upadhyaya.The meeting focused on traffic diversion strategies, mobility planning and parking arrangements near Metro stations. The nodal officer informed that a proposal had been prepared to install cameras at 65 new crossings. The municipal commissioner directed that the list of identified crossings be forwarded to the deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) for further action.Additional deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Kapil Dev stated that both short-term and long-term traffic management plans would be submitted to the departments concerned to ensure priority-based execution. These plans include provisions such as zebra crossings, road markings and thermoplastic paint.During the meeting, RITES, a government-nominated institution based in New Delhi, presented a detailed project report on the city's mobility plan. The presentation highlighted traffic management measures, parking arrangements near Metro stations, Metro connectivity and proposed link roads connecting different parts of the city.The municipal commissioner directed that the mobility plan be shared with all departments concerned to enable better preparedness for the next review meeting.Meanwhile, the executive engineer of the National Highways division of the Public Works Department pointed out that several Metro stations are located along national highways, where encroachments have become a major issue and stressed the need for their removal. The municipal commissioner instructed the officials to complete necessary formalities after identifying encroachments and assured full support from the municipal corporation for anti-encroachment drives.