Kerala: Scam Alleged In Procurement Of AI Traffic Cameras; Congress Says CM Could Be Involved, Demands Judicial Enquiry

Ramesh Chennithala, a senior Congress leader, has called for a judicial enquiry into the corruption allegations regarding procurement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) equipped traffic cameras under the State's Safe Kerala initiative.

Chennithala told reporters in Kasaragod that Akshara India Private Limited, a company which participated in the tender evaluation prequalification bid, was only 6 years and 2 months old while the conditions stipulated a minimum of 10 years of working experience. He cited documents uploaded by the Kerala State Electronics Corporation (KELTRON).

Chennithala stated that besides Akshara India Private Limited, Ashoka Buildcon, Gujarat Infotech, and SRIT India had participated.

Further, he said that SRIT, which bagged the tender, lacked previous experience in traffic surveillance cameras and relied on approximately five other companies.

He added that KELTRON has not released some important documents
and the AI camera project which was supposed to cost Rs 100 crore was tendered for Rs 232 crore, allegedly to facilitate corruption.

Earlier, VD Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition had said that SRIT, which won the tender without having any prior experience in traffic surveillance, ended up making money just because it won the contract as the actual work was done by other companies. He called it 'Nokkukooli', a Malayalam word which means getting money for doing nothing.

The matter is currently being looked into by the Principal Secretary of the Industries Ministry. He has been asked to go through all the documents and come up with a report.

Both Chennithala and Satheesan have said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could be involved and he has to come clean on the issue.

According to the government, the installation of AI cameras is being done to reduce the number of road accidents and traffic violations. These cameras can detect violations like tripling, people not wearing seat belts, not stopping at the red light etc.