Bhubaneswar, April 1: Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will soon be watching roads in the capital in an effort to tackle traffic offenders and nab speeding drivers.

These cameras would be installed at several traffic intersections across the city apart from major buildings in the first phase of the drive to keep violators at bay.

The first phase of installation would be over by the end of the financial year 2012-13. This is part of a Rs 20.61-crore CCTV surveillance system project for the city.

“The government has sanctioned Rs 3 crore to begin the installation work,” said twin city police commissioner B.K. Sharma.

Despite the police trying hard to curb traffic violations in the city, offenders keep cops on their toes. Over 300 persons are caught flouting traffic rules every day.

Senior police officials said two types of cameras — fixed and PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) — would be installed. These cameras can be controlled through a remote.

“The cameras will be all-weather ones and fitted in high places to avoid any kind of damage,” said a senior police officer.

Still photos and videos of traffic movement would be captured. During unusual circumstances, such as traffic accidents, vehicle breakdowns on busy roads, rallies or protests, these cameras would send photos to the base transceiver system. The city will be divided into six zones with each one having a base transceiver system. This system will later send the photos to the police commissioner’s office and police control room, where they can be stored as required.

A video wall will be installed there to screen the pictures.

“The cameras will also be able to set off alarms in the control room. We will feed the CCTV cameras with many inputs. After capturing an image, they would transmit the image to the control room. There will be a beep on the computer, following which the mobile PCR (police control room) van would rush to the spot,” said the officer.

Last year, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had said that Rs 20.61 crore had been sanctioned for installing CCTV cameras at 83 places across the city including 49 traffic intersections, several sensitive zones and places of large gathering.

On Odisha Police Day, police commissioner B.K. Shamra talked on the CCTV surveillance system. Two more police stations would be set up soon in the city for better policing, he added.