PSIs wearing body cams authorised to issue traffic challans

Panaji: With road accidents rising over the past two months, state govt on Saturday decided to allow police sub-inspectors (PSIs) with body-worn cameras to challan traffic violators during the daytime.

In April, PSIs were allowed to challan traffic violators at nighttime.“We will immediately implement the decision to allow PSIs to challan traffic violators during daytime,” DGP Alok Kumar told TOI.PIs were empowered to issue challans for traffic violations during daytime. During the night hours, along with PIs, PSIs were entrusted with the task.Chief minister Pramod Sawant held a review meeting on Friday with Goa police.

During the meeting, Goa police apprised the chief minister of the sharp rise in accidents.Police explained to the chief minister that since there was no police presence on the road, there was no fear among the commuters, and they drove in a rash and negligent manner, which resulted in an increase in road accidents, including fatal ones.After going through the presentation of Goa police, Sawant granted permission to the force to allow PSIs to issue challans to traffic violators during the daytime.

Sawant made the decision after receiving several complaints regarding harassment from police personnel, especially against those deployed for traffic management and from lower ranks.“I announced that during daytime, only PIs with body cameras will issue challans, and at night, only PSIs and PIs wearing body cameras will be empowered to do so,” Sawant said. “Besides PIs and PSIs, no other police personnel can issue challans.” State govt has finalised a private player to implement the Traffic Sentinel Scheme in a new avatar on a public-private partnership model. The private player will give 60.5% of the revenue — collected through fines from traffic violators — to state govt.Mistotex Technology Pvt Ltd has been picked to implement the project. All the infrastructure will be created by the private player.State govt will fit AI-powered dash cams on Goa police vehicles and Kadamba Transport Corporation buses to capture traffic violators. These violations include three people riding on a two-wheeler, riding helmetless, and speeding.