In Punjab, where road accidents claim an average of 13 lives daily, a crucial safety initiative remains unfulfilled. Despite Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s October 2023 approval to install CCTV cameras in high-risk districts, the project has yet to materialize. Districts like Patiala, Rupnagar, Mohali, Nawanshahr, and Fatehgarh Sahib, which collectively accounted for over 30% of the state’s 4,829 road fatalities in 2023, were prioritized for this initiative.
The plan aimed to enhance real-time traffic monitoring and enforcement through electronic surveillance. The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) was tasked with drafting a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire a consultant for the project. This draft was reviewed in January 2024 by key stakeholders, including the Administrative Secretary of the Transport Department and the Additional Director General of Police (Traffic). Further discussions took place during the 15th meeting of the Punjab State Road Safety Council, emphasizing the Transport Department’s role in leading the implementation, with support from Smart City Chandigarh Ltd and PIDB.
However, despite these administrative efforts, the project has not progressed beyond the planning stages. The absence of CCTV surveillance in these critical areas continues to hinder effective traffic enforcement and accident prevention. As the state grapples with high road fatality rates, the delay in implementing this approved safety measure raises concerns about administrative efficiency and public safety priorities.
