Vilas P Brahmankar, regional officer of NHAI, Karnataka, said that 80 cameras are installed along access-controlled roads and that more will be added within one and a half years on older stretches. The NHAI divided road stretches into three categories: those with ongoing road works, those where works were completed one to two years ago and those completed five to 10 years ago. Stretches will be prioritised on the basis of passenger car unit (PCU), the number of accidents in recent years and the level of local activity.
Officials said there is no dearth of funds for installation and that emphasis is being placed on night patrols to improve deterrence. They noted that while there are no officially designated black spots, certain stretches such as sharp turnings, pedestrian crossings or openings on access-controlled roads are identified as accident prone. The effort seeks to combine infrastructure measures with enforcement to address the principal causes of collisions.
Officials added that with the revised speed limit on such stretches rising from 80 km/h to 100 km/h an increase in camera coverage is required for better surveillance and enforcement. They observed that driver behaviour often contributes to risk and that posted limits do not guarantee compliance, with a recommendation that speeds ideally should not exceed 80 km/h in many locations. The NHAI indicated that it will use the data to determine further interventions and that it remains open to suggestions from stakeholders.