Kozhikode plans expanded CCTV network to curb traffic violations and illegal dumping
Kozhikode police and Corporation plan CCTV coverage for 200+ hotspots to check traffic violations and waste dumping, with ANPR cameras and sponsor support.
The Kozhikode city police and the Kozhikode Corporation are moving ahead with plans to significantly expand CCTV surveillance across the city. The initiative targets over 200 newly identified hotspots where traffic rule violations and reckless waste dumping have been frequent. A no-objection certificate is expected shortly to formally begin the project.
As part of the plan, authorities intend to install at least 100 cameras equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. This feature is expected to help accurately track traffic violations, and police sources note it could also assist in preventing vehicle thefts and hit-and-run cases. The specific locations for these cameras have already been shortlisted based on the frequency of violations reported.
Beyond traffic management, the surveillance network is also proposed to cover suspected drug hotspots. A senior police officer from the traffic squad indicated that a broader network would require support from sponsors, as joint projects are seen as the only viable way to achieve such large-scale coverage.
For the Corporation, reckless dumping of waste remains a major concern. The new initiative includes plans to cover at least 150 problem spots with cameras. Members of the Haritha Karma Sena (HKM) and ward councillors have long pushed for camera-based surveillance to tackle this issue. HKM members point out that several wetland areas within the city continue to be used for illegal septage dumping, especially at night, due to the lack of surveillance.
Preliminary discussions suggest the surveillance project and its maintenance contract could cost around ₹8 crore. In addition, local residents' forums will be encouraged to help expand the network in their respective areas. V.C. Ramesh, a residents' association functionary from Purakkatthiri, stressed the need for stringent enforcement against those dumping septage in public spaces, noting that cleaning polluted areas remains a challenging task for sanitation workers.