Palakkad: In a major setback to traffic enforcement in Kerala, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has disconnected the power supply to the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) in Palakkad after electricity arrears crossed ₹50,000, bringing enforcement activities to a complete halt across the district.
With the power cut, the office responsible for operating and monitoring the AI-based traffic surveillance system has been plunged into darkness. As a result, surveillance through 47 AI cameras installed across six taluks in Palakkad has stopped, effectively suspending the issuance of fines for traffic violations.
The outage has also immobilised the department’s five electric vehicles, which cannot be charged, forcing enforcement squads to suspend field operations.
The affected MVD office is a significant revenue source for the state, generating nearly ₹2.5 crore every month through fines imposed via AI camera detections and direct inspections. The shutdown has sparked concerns over both public safety and revenue loss.
Previously, electricity bills were paid by Keltron, the agency responsible for office maintenance. However, from January last year, the responsibility was transferred to the Motor Vehicles Department. While payments were made regularly initially, arrears began accumulating from November.
Officials say that although the bills were forwarded to the Finance Department through the Transport Commissioner last month, the funds have not yet been released. According to the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), the delay in payment led directly to the power disconnection.
The incident has highlighted administrative lapses that can cripple critical enforcement systems, raising questions about coordination between departments and the urgent need for corrective action.
