Rajeev cited the report filed by Industries Department Principal Secretary and said that all documents were in the public domain.
The Kerala MVD has procured 726 cameras, of which 675 have AI capabilities.(Wikimedia Commons)
Despite the Congress alleging irregularities and corruption in installing artificial intelligence (AI) cameras as part of the much-hyped Safe Kerala Project, the ruling LDF government has decided to go ahead with its initiative.
Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev termed the controversy over the installation of Artificial Intelligence cameras as part of the Safe Kerala Project as “baseless”, and said that the tender process was completely transparent.
At a press meet held in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, 19 May, Rajeev cited the report filed in this regard by the Industries Department’s principal secretary and said that all the concerned documents in connection with the project were in the public domain.
In April, Rajeev had ordered a probe and told reporters: “Even before the Opposition raised the allegations, we had received some complaints regarding the Motor Vehicle Department and issues regarding Keltron (the state-owned Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited). We ordered a vigilance probe in March. We had also sought a report from Keltron.”
The Congress party has been raising corruption charges against the Safe Kerala Project, which aims to reduce road accidents and traffic violations in the state.
“State-run Keltron’s tender process for the Safe Kerala Project was completely transparent and all due procedures were followed. All concerned documents are in the public domain as those were uploaded in the e-portal from then itself,” the minister said.
He pointed out that except for the data security, data integrity, and configuration of technical management equipment, the agreement permits sub-contracts for all other processes.
“The agreement is between Keltron and the private company. However, the report has observed that there was no need to mention the sub-contractors in the agreement.”
The contract for the project was awarded to a Bengaluru-based company after issuing a tender. Rajeev added that the project was handed over to Keltron based on the recommendation of a technical committee.
In April this year, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Safe Kerala Project, which included installation of the AI cameras, envisaged to reduce road accidents and traffic violations in the state.
The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) has procured 726 cameras, of which 675 have AI capabilities.
Public sector undertaking Keltron has been tasked with manufacturing and maintaining the camera network.
The Kerala government had, in 2020, entered into an agreement with Keltron for the project.
The Opposition party leaders have been alleging that the Left government had indulged in irregularities in awarding the tender to the private company for setting up a fully-automated traffic enforcement system. The Congress party had alleged that the entire project is “shrouded in mystery”.
In a letter to Chief Minister Vijayan, Congress leader VD Satheesan claimed there was no information available in the public domain about the project contracts, the agreement between the Transport Department and Keltron, and the tendering process.
Satheesan alleged that the cameras were purchased at prices higher than the market rates and there was no transparency in the selection of the companies.
He further added that while the Transport Department commissioned Keltron to implement the project, the service agreement in this regard was not available in the public domain.
He alleged that Keltron acted contrary to the terms of the service agreement. It procured camera parts and assembled them at a higher cost and also added huge amounts to the contract for warranty and maintenance.
The tendering process was shrouded in mystery too, he said. Furthermore, he alleged that Keltron subcontracted the work to SRIT India Private Limited for ₹151 crore.
He further claimed that Keltron was entrusted with the responsibility to implement the project, despite the Finance Department’s objections.
In an earlier interview with South First, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala accused Keltron of misusing its authority and called the project the brainchild of former principal secretary to chief minister, M Sivasankar.
“Keltron has been given the contract to manufacture the required products as it is a PSU. But it misused its authority and transferred its duty to a third-party company called SRIT,” he said.
“SRIT does not have any expense in the ₹232.25-crore project. The other two companies, Lyte Master Lighting India and Presidio Technology, along with a third company called Al-Hind, formed a consortium. So, neither Keltron nor the government of Kerala has any expenses,” the Congress leader noted.
Chennithala said that Al-Hind as well as Lyte Master left the consortium as they lost trust in Keltron.
“The products were purchased for ₹61 crore and they made a profit of ₹8-9 crore. The remaining amount was to be divided between Presidio Technology and SRIT India in a ratio of 60:40. I will share the details of this deal at a news conference,” Chennithala said.
Chennithala alleged that Keltron’s managing director has not responded to questions. “Who invested the money? Who invested the ₹232 crore? The government has not spent any money, then who gave it? They should answer these questions,” Chennithala demanded.
“This is Sivasankar’s baby. This was planned and executed after discussions with the chief minister. Those who are related to the chief minister are getting the benefits. Keltron was made a scapegoat,” he stated.
Once a powerful bureaucrat, Sivasankar was arrested for a third time in the Life Mission scam in February.
(With PTI inputs)
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