As a pilot project, the Ministry of Home Affairs is bringing in several changes to the installation of CCTV cameras (Closed Circuit Cameras) on about two and a half kilometers of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, including introducing an automated system to stop reckless speeding.
The Highway Police have already submitted the revised proposal to the ministry.
The Highway Police have recommended the introduction of an 'automatic detection system' to prevent reckless speeding along with the safety of passengers, according to the proposal.
In this system, reckless speeding vehicles will automatically come under the purview of the measure.
Even information about the case, filed for over speeding vehicles, will go to the vehicles owner's mobile phone.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will take the decision after examining the proposals.
Accordingly, the Highway Police will work to implement the decision, according to information obtained from related sources.
According to sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Highway Police, the implementation period of the CCTV project has been fixed till June 2024. At present, project revision work is being scrutinized.
An app named 'Digital Autofine System' has been added to this project.
Driving above the prescribed speed limit, in case of reckless speed, will automatically result in a fine or case against that vehicle.
Responsible officials of the Highway Police say that if CCTV is installed under the pilot project, the reckless speed of vehicles or robbery on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway will be significantly reduced.
The project stakeholders said that CCTV will be installed on the road according to the prescribed distance, which will keep every part of the highway safe day and night. CCTV control rooms will be set up at some places. As a result, vehicles plying on highways can be monitored locally and also from the headquarters of the Highway Police.
Officials say reckless speed is one of the major causes of most road accidents. When the 'Digital Autofine System' will be launched, a driver will realize that he is being monitored and he will not drive beyond the prescribed speed limit.
Apart from this, there will be no opportunity for vehicular movement in the opposite direction, added the officials.
The Highway Police also said that if someone drives a vehicle at a speed higher than the approved speed, a case will be filed against that vehicle through the detecting machine installed on the road.
At the same time, SMS about the case will automatically go to the owner of the vehicle.
The project stakeholders say that the process of electrical connection after the installation of CCTV is under review. A total of 1,427 different types of CCTV cameras will be installed at 490 locations on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, day and night.
Different types of cameras, including drone, checkpoint and long vision, will be used. There will be five sub centres for monitoring. The main command centre will be at Meghna Ghat. Apart from this, there will be monitoring systems in Comilla Highway Region, Gazipur Region, Daudkandi and Baro Aaulia of Chittagong, they said.
Md Barkatullah Khan, Additional DIG of Highway Police, said: "A proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs by adding several issues. It will be possible to give details about this when it is passed by the ministry.”
Md Shahabuddin Khan, Chief Additional IGP, Highway Police, said: "A proposal has been prepared for the Dhaka-Chittagong highway as a pilot project, especially on how electrical connections will be handled. These are subject to experimentation.”
Not only the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, but various highways in the country can be brought under the coverage of CCTV cameras and it will then be possible to avoid unwanted incidents like road accidents and robberies, added the senior official.