98 lakh offenders have been caught by kerala’s AI cameras since June 2023 with fines amounting to Rs 631 crore, of which the MVD collected Rs 400 crores

Riding without helmet is the most detected violation. Driving without fastening seat belts and triple riding on two-wheelers are next. 

The Kerala government’s decision to install Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras across highways to crack down on traffic offences, a move that had stirred up controversy over its huge cost, is paying dividends.

In the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2025, fines to the tune of Rs 273 crore were imposed through e-challans for traffic violations detected by the camera. Of this, around Rs 150 crore has been collected by the department so far. The remaining amount will be collected over the next few months.

The fully automated traffic enforcement system was brought in by the MVD as part of ‘Safe Kerala’ project. A total of 726 cameras were installed across major traffic hotspots in the state at a cost of Rs 230 crore. The project includes 675 AI cameras, four speed cameras, four mobile speed cameras, 18 red light cameras and 25 parking cameras.

D Dhanuraj, Chairman of Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), spoke to Manisha V C S of The New Indian Express (TNIE) on the subject.

“From the numbers, we understand that enforcement has been tightened, yet the final debate should be on its impact on road accidents; how much the changes have helped reduce the deaths,”

Dhanuraj is quoted as saying.

Read the TNIE article here.

Views expressed by the author are personal and need not reflect or represent the views of the Centre for Public Policy Research.