Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (MS)

Karkala, Feb 24: Vehicle census is also digitalized with the intention of collecting transparent and proof-based information. Automatic technology is being used for vehicle census.

Statewide vehicle census has begun from February 23, which will go on for two days. For the first time, instead of doing the census manually, the state government has adopted a CCTV camera to get the same done.

PWD, ports and internal water transport is carrying out the survey of vehicles that are running on state highways and main roads in districts of Karnataka.

Private companies are given the contract to install CCTV cameras at census centres. These are installed near national highway, main roads of districts and railway gates. These cameras are capturing complete data of the vehicles that are plying on roads. This census is being carried out under the observation of assistant and junior engineers.

Earlier, vehicle census was done manually by opening survey centres on the roadside. Personnel were deployed at such centres and the census was being carried out for seven days. Information based on the guidelines on the format was being entered. The personnel were working day and night.

According to officials digitalization will be more accurate. This also prevents the presence of manpower near the road for weeks together. During the manual survey, though vehicles were asked to move slowly, accurate information could not be gathered due to the fast movement and group movement of vehicles.

S K Ashoka, executive engineer, PWD, says, "We were not getting accurate information by deploying people to carry out the vehicle census day and night. That is why CCTV cameras are installed, which will be more accurate as video recording is done in these. This system is adapted for transparency."

The number of goods vehicles and other private vehicles has increased considerably due to the growing population and business. This data is being collected in order to develop the road surface quality, widening of roads, upgrading to facilitate safe, easy movement of vehicles and to avoid any accidents. These are the main aims of this survey.