Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the system on Wednesday morning as the chief guest at an event organized at the Highway Police's 'Command, Control and Monitoring Center' at Meghnaghat in Sonargaon, Narayanganj.
At the inaugural ceremony, the Home Minister said this is an important technology-based step in establishing discipline on the highway. It will bring a major change in the overall traffic management of the country. After evaluating the effectiveness and experience of the system on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, the AI-based automatic fine system will gradually be introduced on other highways of the country.
Monitoring against extortion too
The minister said while expressing a firm stance against any kind of illegal extortion on the highway, whether it is committed by owners, labour organizations, or any police member, it will be recorded through CCTV and AI cameras. Steps will be taken to make the highway free from extortion through technology-based surveillance and public cooperation.
Measures against illegal vehicles
The Home Minister also said that unapproved and unlicensed three-wheelers and non-motorized vehicles will not be allowed to ply on the highway. Police have been instructed to take immediate action against such vehicles under existing law.
However, the Highway Police chief has been given necessary directives so that essential matters such as using local feeder roads or collecting fuel from CNG filling stations can be managed in coordination with the ground reality.
At the event, presided over by Highway Police chief and Additional IG Faruk Ahmed, special guests included President of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation and Member of Parliament Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Member of Parliament from Narayanganj-3 constituency Azharul Islam Mannan, and IGP of Bangladesh Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir.
At the event, the Highway Police, Bangladesh Police, transport owners-workers' organizations and the general public were urged to jointly make the initiative successful. Emphasis was also placed on creating widespread public awareness in print, electronic and online media and social media.
AI cameras installed on 490 pillars
Under the relevant project, automatic AI cameras have already been installed on 490 pillars of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Through these cameras, various types of traffic law violations, including driving above the speed limit, dangerous overtaking, disobeying traffic signs and signals, driving on the wrong side, and illegal parking, can be automatically detected and recorded.
Once a violation is detected, the information of the vehicle concerned will be sent directly to BRTA's database. Then, an SMS will be automatically sent to the registered owner's mobile number with case details.
There is also digital convenience in paying fines. After receiving the SMS, vehicle owners can pay the fine from home at their convenience through Mobile Financial Services (MFS).
If a vehicle repeatedly violates traffic laws, strict administrative and legal action may be taken, including cancellation of registration, in accordance with BRTA rules.
