Kerala's AI traffic cameras offline as Finance department withholds ₹60 crore payments

The operation of AI-powered traffic cameras across Kerala has been disrupted after the Finance department delayed clearing bills worth approximately ₹60 crore to Keltron, the state electronics enterprise. Internet connectivity for the cameras was cut by service provider Jio, as Keltron failed to pay dues for the network services.

The Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA) is responsible for channelling quarterly funds from the Finance department to Keltron for the camera project. However, payments have been stalled for the past 15 months, leaving Keltron with arrears of around ₹60 crore. A senior Transport department official explained that KRSA can only disburse funds after the Finance department sanctions money from the Kerala Road Safety Fund, and the delay has crippled the system.

Meanwhile, SRIT India Private Ltd, the Bengaluru-based company that implemented the project, approached the Kerala High Court over non-payment. Last month, the court directed the state government and the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) to release ₹36 crore in outstanding dues to SRIT through Keltron within one month.

The AI camera network, part of the Safe Kerala Project, has been credited with reducing road accident fatalities by about 400 per year. Since its launch, the system has generated approximately ₹350 crore in revenue for the state. According to a Keltron official, if all pending challans are processed, fines could total around ₹1,000 crore.

The project, launched in 2022 at a cost of ₹235 crore (including five-year operation and maintenance), currently has all cameras physically operational. However, the interruption in internet connectivity has halted the generation and issuance of challans at enforcement control centres, rendering the enforcement system ineffective.