Computers, not cops, for checkposts

Policemen will no longer be stationed at these points 8212; computer operators will. Defaulters or others trying to flee will be checked by a barrier 8212; and a tyre-shreeder. As soon as a vehicle touches a barrier, steel shredders embedded below the road surface will rise and rip through tyres at one go. 8220;The shredder system is adapted from one designed at the Pentagon,8221; said Pannirvel.

He also said once computerised checkposts come into operation, the problem of harassment will come to an end. The unique feature of the system, which makes it totally 8220;corruption-free8221;, is pre-paid cards. 8220;Erring vehicle drivers will push their pre-paid cards into a computerised machine which will download the amount as penalty8221;, Pannirvell said, adding, 8220;There will be no cash payment. We will make it mandatory for all transporters to keep pre-paid cards.8221;

He said the computerised checkposts would be linked with the Central Monitoring and Database Management System to be set up at the Sabarmati RTO office premises in Ahmedabad. 8220;It is from there that my staff and I will monitor traffic operations8221;, Pannirvel said. He expects the department8217;s income to double from the existing Rs 500 crore.

But the scheme has elicited a guarded response from transporters. 8220;The idea sounds good if it is practically possible to implement the project,8221; opined Akhil Gujarat Truck Transport Association honorary secretary Nimish J Patel. AGTTA president Nandlal Thaper, however, felt transporters will not at all benefit because drivers are harassed by the highway police, not by policemen posted at checkposts.