Bhubaneswar, Oct. 5: The transport department today launched an Android-based app - "Ame Prahari" - in a bid to make it easy for citizens to send photographs and videos of traffic violations to them.
The transport department will penalise the offenders on the basis of the photographs and video footage.
Android phone users need to download the app from Google Play Store and register their name. After that the user needs to register the mobile number and address, which will be kept confidential. After successful registration, the user will get a confirmation message along with an ID number.
"The app user needs to mention the location of the incident, along with the date and time. The user also needs to take the photograph in such a way that it should display the registration number of the vehicles. After successful submission of the image or video, the user will also get a conformation message," said a transport official.
On December 3 last year, the regional transport office (RTO) had launched a programme to felicitate citizens with cash rewards if they took photographs of traffic violators who are speak on the phone while driving, or park vehicles in a prohibited zone.
The RTO has also decided to give a cash award of Rs 50 for each photograph submitted to the authorities. However, the decision to launch a mobile app was taken after the authorities found citizen photographers were finding it difficult to take printouts of photographs and submit them.
"After analysing the photographs and videos, action will be initiated against the offenders. They will be issued a challan and information about the sender will be kept secret. Even the operator cannot ascertain the mobile number of the sender," said regional transport officer S.K Behera, who was part of the team that designed the app.
According to statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau, 9,640 road mishaps took place in the state in 2014, claiming 3,920 lives. Besides, 11,083 people were injured in road mishaps in 2014. A transport official said that on an average, 12 deaths took place in road accidents in the state every day.
"The users can also send photographs and videos of bus drivers talking on phones while driving. The senders will not be provided with any money but regular contributors will be felicitated by the transport department," Behera said.
