Latest news with #AutomatedNumberPlateRecognition
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Beware! Petrol pumps to refuse fuel to these vehicles from July 1: Here's why
Petrol pumps to refuse fuel to these vehicles from July 1. Starting July 1, vehicles past their permissible age limit in Delhi will no longer be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps. The move is part of a crackdown on pollution, with the Delhi government working to complete the installation of Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras across all fuel pumps in the city. For the unversed, the Supreme Court in 2018 banned diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years in Delhi. An earlier 2014 directive from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) also prohibited such vehicles from being parked in public spaces. The new rule targets 'end-of-life' vehicles which includes diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles more than 15 years old. This directive stems from an April order issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which asked fuel pumps to stop providing fuel to such overage vehicles from July 1 onwards. Fuel ban for overage vehicles in Delhi: Camera installation almost done by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta pastilla olvidada limpia las venas a un ritmo impresionante NEWSCASA Undo Officials from the transport department have confirmed that the ANPR camera setup is almost complete, with only about 10-15 pumps pending installation. Delhi has approximately 400 petrol stations and 160 CNG outlets, all of which are being equipped with the tech to automatically detect vehicle age using number plates. Kia Carens Clavis first drive review: Carens facelift or more | TOI Auto Once fully operational, the ANPR system will flag non-compliant vehicles as soon as they enter a fuel station. These vehicles will not only be refused fuel but may also face legal consequences under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989. The Delhi government has urged vehicle owners to either obtain a No Objection Certificate to take such EoL vehicles out of the National Capital Region or opt for scrapping at a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility . (Inputs from PTI)
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CDWP approves four projects worth Rs21.83bn
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) cleared a total of 10 development projects at a cost of Rs 249.17 billion. The CDWP approved four development projects at a cost of Rs 21.83 billion and referred six development projects valued of Rs 227.34 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final consideration and approval. The CDWP met with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal in the chair at P-Block Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Awais Manzur Sumra, Secretary Planning along with chief economist, VC PIDE, other members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning and Development (P&D) departments, and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments. The agenda focused on development projects across key sectors, including transport and communications, environment, higher education and information technology. A project related to information technology was presented in the meeting namely, 'Expansion of Safe City, Islamabad (New)' at a cost of Rs 7,499.339 million approved by the CDWP forum. The project is proposed to be financed through PSDP. Currently, 35 percent of Islamabad is under surveillance through Safe City project after completion of project 100 percent all major areas including major roads, religious places, VVIP areas and government buildings, entry/exit and other important points will be covered. It is pertinent to mention that existing project was planned for coverage of 13 police stations which is now expanded to 28 police stations. The ICT Police facing challenges to have monitoring/surveillance of complete territory of Capital City. Additional 3,655 cameras will be installed in addition to already installed cameras. The scope of the project includes comprehensive capacity building through training programmes for executive staff on all modules developed under the initiative. It also encompasses development of advanced software and analytics capabilities, along with the implementation of an Integrated Video Management System (IVMS). Key features include Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) for standardized plates, facial recognition using high-quality photographs matched against a standardised database, and enhanced traffic management systems. These systems will enable vehicle identification, integration with excise and stolen vehicle databases, as well as vehicle count and classification. The project also involves the installation and distribution of essential hardware, including screens, servers, fixed and PTZ cameras, ANPR cameras, and network distribution switches, ensuring a fully integrated and functional system. A project of higher education sector presented namely, 'Establishment of National Center for Quantum Computing (NCQC) – (New)' worth Rs 3,318.363 million approved by the CDWP. The scope of work for the establishment of the National Center for Quantum Computing (NCQC) includes civil works encompassing HVAC systems and furniture, along with the setup of specialised laboratory equipment for quantum computing and training. It also covers the provision of furniture and fixtures, licensing costs for HUB, UET Main Campus, GIKI, and NED Karachi, as well as human resource expenses. The project includes MS scholarships, international training programmes, institutional linkages, and travel expenses including TA/DA, all combined for the aforementioned institutions. While thoroughly discussing the project, the DCPC and Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised that 'Establishing a National Centre for Quantum Computing in Pakistan' is essential to securing the country's technological sovereignty and enhancing its future global competitiveness. He said that quantum computing holds transformative potential in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, drug discovery, and climate modeling. Another project related to higher education sector presented in the forum namely, 'Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) (Revised)' was referred to ECNEC with a revised cost of Rs 21,190.777 million. Under this project tertiary education in Pakistan includes universities and affiliated colleges (ACs), with the former overseen by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the latter jointly managed by universities and provincial departments. Six transport and communication projects were presented during the meeting, including the 'Dualization of Sargodha–Khushab–Mianwali Road (60.43 km) in District Khushab – (Revised),' which was referred to ECNEC for further consideration at a revised cost of Rs 11,806.516 million. The project envisages construction/dualisation of 60.43-km long and 7.31-meter wide (having formation width 27.432-meter wide) into a 4-lane dual carriageway from Khushab to Mianwali, in District Khushab. The project road passes through Jauharabad, Hadali, Botala, Mitha Tiwana, Okhali Mohala, Quaidabad, Bandial, which is terminates at Mianwali. The scope of work, includes, construction of bridge on over River Jhelum, flyovers, walkways, box and pipe culverts, retaining walls, pile foundation of bridge. The scope of work also includes, construction of drain, stone pitching, median, toll plaza, improvement of main chowks, provision of shoulders on either side along with allied structures. Another project of T&C sector presented namely, 'Development of a Controlled Access Corridor Facility from Niazi Interchange to BabuSabu Interchange, Lahore (New)' worth Rs 10,842.253 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. Another project of the T&C sector presented namely, 'Dualisation of Road from Gujranwala to M-2 Interchange at KotSarwar via Hafizabad Length (70.5 Km) (Revised)' which was referred to ECNEC for further consideration at a revised cost of Rs 13,230.672 million. The revised project envisages dualising the existing 2-lane road from Alam Chowk in Gujranwala to KotSarwar Interchange at M-2 via Hafizabad, with a total length of 74.15 kilometres. The alignment passes through two districts, covering 34.00 kilometres in Gujranwala District and 40.15 kilometres in Hafizabad District. The proposed dual carriageway will consist of a 24-feet wide main carriageway with 4-feet and 2-feet wide shoulders on either side. Rigid pavement and a service carriageway are proposed in built-up areas, while the main carriageway will be constructed using flexible pavement with 5-inch thick asphaltic concrete laid in two layers. The scope of work also includes the widening of existing culverts as per site requirements and the provision of one flyover at Ladhaywala Waraich to ensure smooth traffic flow and to address the narrow Right of Way (ROW) in that area. A project of Pakistan Railways was also presented and approved, 'Rehabilitation of Track Maintenance Machines (Revised)' worth Rs 5,312.876 million by the forum. A project related to T&C sector presented in the meeting namely, 'Reconstruction of National Highway N-5 under Pakistan's Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework Project, Phase-I 210 Km (New)' worth Rs 155,408.403 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding on 90:10 sharing basis, 90 percent to be provided by the AIIB and 10 percent through PSDP. The Project PC-I of Phase-01, under Pakistan's Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework, involves the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and conversion of a 210-kilometre stretch of the N-5 (GT Road) from a 4-lane to a 6-lane wide dual carriageway. The project scope includes the construction of a 7.3-metre wide service road in urban areas, upgrading the existing corridor into climate-resilient infrastructure with additional cross drainage structures, widening and improvement of existing bridges, geometric enhancements, installation of road safety devices, pedestrian bridges, and provision of dedicated U-turns. Phase-I of the project comprises two sub-phases, Phase I-A and Phase I-B, covering a total of 210 kilometres. Phase I-A, spanning 141 kilometres, includes the sections from Ranipur to Rohri, Rawalpindi to Hassanabdal, and Nowshera to Peshawar. Phase I-B, covering 69 kilometres, includes the Lahore to Gujranwala section and the NaiBaran Bridge. A project related to T&C sector presented in the meeting namely, 'Dualisation of Road from Chishtian to Chak No 46/3R via Dahrnawala (41.154 km) including Two Lane Link Road from Dahrnawala to Chak 175M (4.859 km)-(Revised)' worth Rs 14,859.054 million referred to ECNEC for further consideration. The source of financing is based on 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the federal government and the Government of Punjab. The project aims to provide safer, faster, and more efficient transportation. The dualisation will enable smooth traffic flow, significantly reduce accidents, lower vehicle operating costs, and save travel time. It will also generate employment opportunities for local communities. Aligned with national transport sector objectives, the project addresses inefficiencies in Pakistan's road transport system—such as slow speeds, high costs, and low reliability—which hinder trade competitiveness and increase the cost of doing business. By supporting a more efficient and sustainable highway network, the project will contribute to economic growth and better integration into global supply chains. A project related to environment sector presented in the meeting namely, 'IPF Component for Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP) (New)' worth Rs 5,700.351 million approved by the CDWP. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding. The Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the severe air pollution crisis in Punjab through a multi-sectoral approach involving key sectors such as transport, environment, and agriculture. The programme includes the introduction of electric buses and electric two- and three-wheelers, alongside the strengthening of vehicle inspection and certification systems. It also focuses on enhancing air quality monitoring and fuel testing laboratories to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The PCAP prioritises public health and sustainability by targeting the reduction of PM 2.5 emissions and raising community awareness. Additionally, it promotes sustainable agricultural practices by subsidising Super Seeders to prevent crop residue burning, offering a practical solution to improve air quality, safeguard health, and support eco-friendly transportation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Noida, Ghaziabad fuel stations to deny fuel to overaged vehicles from November 1
AI Image GHAZIABAD : The Regional Transport Office ( RTO ) in Ghaziabad is preparing to install Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 222 fuel stations across Noida and Ghaziabad—101 in Noida and 121 in Ghaziabad—to identify and restrict the refuelling of End-of-Life ( EOL ) vehicles, in compliance with the directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) from Nov 1. These vehicles, defined as petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years, have been identified as major contributors to air pollution in the National Capital Region ( NCR ). RTO Ghaziabad PK Singh said that the department received the directive from CAQM and is currently working on a detailed report and budget estimate for the proposed installation. 'A decision on who will bear the cost—whether the govt, transport department, or fuel station operators—is yet to be made,' he said. The cameras shall be installed at fuel stations before Oct 31 in the two cities. The CAQM, in its directive dated April 23, underlined the pressing need to phase out older, highly polluting vehicles, particularly those conforming to outdated BS III and BS II emission standards. The commission emphasised that these vehicles continue to pose a serious threat to air quality despite earlier rulings and guidelines. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered a ban on diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years in the NCR as far back as April 7, 2015. Yet, enforcement has lagged, with data revealing limited action. Uttar Pradesh alone has an estimated 12.69 lakh such overaged vehicles as of March 2025. In Noida, approximately 1.8 lakh EOL vehicles remain on the roads—1.5 lakh petrol vehicles older than 15 years and 30,000 diesel vehicles older than 10 years, while Ghaziabad has around 2.4 lakh such vehicles, including 1.9 lakh petrol and 50,000 diesel units. In comparison, enforcement remains minimal, with only 3,058 EOL vehicles impounded in 2023 and 1,934 in 2024 across the state. The CAQM has urged NCR states to install ANPR camera systems at fuel stations to monitor non-compliant vehicles. The commission has set deadlines for implementation in Delhi by June 30, 2025, and by Oct 31, 2025, in high vehicle density NCR districts including Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar , Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat, and by April 1 next year in the remaining districts of NCR. From Nov 1, 2025, fuel stations in these NCR cities will be mandated to deny fuel to EOL vehicles, marking a critical step in the region's battle against vehicular pollution. In Delhi, the fuel to such vehicles will be denied from July 1. Dharamveer Chaudhury, General Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Petroleum Traders Association , said the transport department has not yet held any discussions with the traders' body. 'The move is positive, but traders alone cannot ensure its enforcement, as customers can sometimes turn aggressive when denied fuel. The transport department and police should convene a meeting with traders to discuss the measures and how they will be implemented,' he said.
The Star
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Cameras curb parking fee evasion in Penang
YOU pop into a shop for a quick errand, skipping the parking payment, thinking you will not be long. In the meantime, you keep an eye on your vehicle, ready to rush out upon seeing a local council enforcement officer. However, with the introduction of the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, the days of spotting enforcement officers issuing summonses are now a thing of the past. Instead, enforcement now happens discreetly, through high-tech cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles that scan and capture number plates in real time. Before the ANPR came into force, MBPP enforcement officers could be seen issuing summonses for illegal parking. — Filepic Violations are detected instantly, and parking summonses are issued automatically to your Penang Smart Parking app. In short, there is minimal warning and even less opportunity to evade penalties. Just two weeks after its rollout, the system has sparked mixed reactions from drivers and consumer groups. While some praise its efficiency and potential to improve traffic conditions, others express frustration over its uncompromising accuracy. Mohideen: The ANPR system can streamline enforcement, minimise human error and enhance overall efficiency. Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader, in welcoming the move, called it a significant step forward in urban management. He said illegal and haphazard parking had been a persistent issue in Penang for decades, and the new system could finally bring much-needed discipline to the roads. 'The ANPR system can streamline enforcement, minimise human error and enhance overall efficiency,' he said. 'It certainly encourages better parking habits now that motorists are aware their actions are being automatically monitored.' He said the rollout of the ANPR system was a long-overdue response to an issue that had been neglected for too long. 'If enforcement had been more consistent, manual or otherwise, we might not have reached this point. 'With ANPR, we finally have a chance at fairer and more consistent enforcement, assuming the technology is accurate and implemented correctly,' he said. Business owner A. Mariappan, 56, said the move would undoubtedly boost the city councils' coffers, adding that the funds could benefit the public. 'I don't mind the ANPR system, but if you're going to collect all this money from the public, then ensure it is put to good use. 'Reinvest in community infrastructure like beautifying the streets, maintaining pedestrian walkways, or installing better lighting in commercial areas. 'That way, people will feel the system is working for them, not against them,' he pointed out. Tech-driven enforcement The ANPR system was proposed and developed by Heitech Padu (HTP) as part of its contract to manage the city's smart parking system. H'ng: Penang Island council and Seberang Perai council will each deploy five dedicated ANPR patrol teams to monitor their respective areas daily. Incorporating components sourced from several countries, it was fully customised and developed by HTP to suit local requirements. Penang local government, town and country planning committee chairman Jason H'ng Mooi Lye said both Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) were committed to streamlining enforcement operations under the new system. 'Each city council will deploy five dedicated ANPR patrol teams to monitor their respective areas daily. 'The ANPR initiative will reduce the need for human enforcement by at least 60%. 'This means both councils can redeploy their existing parking enforcement personnel to other departments where manpower is urgently needed. 'It is also a cost-saving measure, as it reduces the need to hire additional staff in the future,' he said when contacted by StarMetro. Revising parking system MBPP enforcement director Noorazrein Noorazlan Ong said the system was aimed at ensuring motorists complied with parking regulations without heavy reliance on manual patrols by enforcement officers. Noorazrein: The ANPR system aims to ensure motorists comply with parking regulations. 'It will also ease congestion, encourage turnover of parking spaces and reduce disputes over parking fines,' he said in an interview with StarMetro. He said vehicles parked illegally or without valid payment would now be automatically flagged and issued fines. 'The system checks for both offences during scanning. 'Otherwise, people might park outside the bays instead of within them. 'We advise the public not to park indiscriminately. 'If you park outside the designated areas, your car may be clamped or issued a summons carrying a higher fine by the traffic warden,' he said. Noorazrein said the ANPR system was not intended to burden the public but meant to improve the efficiency, transparency and integrity of parking enforcement. 'The system uses special cameras mounted inside enforcement vehicles to scan and capture vehicle number plates in real time. 'As the patrol vehicles move along the roads, the system automatically checks whether payments have been made and the data is instantly transmitted to the enforcement officers' laptops in the vehicles. A sign at Lorong Belakang Lebuh Pitt informing motorists to use the Penang Smart Parking (PSP) to pay their parking fees. 'If a vehicle is found without valid parking payment, the information is uploaded to the cloud, and the vehicle owner receives an immediate notification through the PSP app,' he said. Noorazrein said only two officers were needed in each enforcement vehicle to monitor hundreds of parking bays. 'In the past, one officer was assigned to patrol between 300 to 400 parking lots, manually checking and recording parking violations. 'It was a task that could take one to two minutes per vehicle. 'With the ANPR, 30 to 40 vehicles can be scanned within a few minutes, making enforcement much faster and more efficient. 'Once scans are complete, officers cross-verify the licence plate images with the collected data to ensure accuracy before uploading any fines to the system. 'Vehicle owners then receive a real-time notification of any compounds issued, through their PSP app,' he said. Cars parked illegally in George Town, Penang, risk being fined by enforcement officers using the ANPR. — Filepic Noorazrein advised PSP users to enable the app's notification settings to avoid missing an alert. Addressing concerns that the system was a 'money-grabbing' tool, as voiced by some motorists interviewed, Noorazrein assured the public that the system was aimed at streamlining operations and reducing dependency on human patrols. 'The system also minimises risks to enforcement officers, such as traffic accidents or altercations during manual checks. 'Users who pay for their parking as required will not be affected by the ANPR. 'The usage brings Penang in line with international standards, where similar technologies have long been used in shopping malls and private carparks for automatic entry and payment systems,' he added. Noorazrein said that before the launch of the ANPR system, a one-year trial period was carried out to ensure stability and efficiency in real-world conditions. 'During the trial phase, over 2,000 compounds were issued using manual printing after vehicles were scanned,' he said. 'With the full launch, the latest version of ANPR now allows for compounds to be sent directly to users' app. 'As Penang moves toward becoming a smarter city, motorists have to adapt quickly either by diligently paying for parking or risk an automated fine.' Modern fix, poor timing While the authorities are hailing the initiative as a step toward modernising urban management, not everyone shares the same optimism. Some view it as an added financial burden, while others argue that the focus should be on increasing the number of available parking bays. Ronan says he has to make a conscious effort to remember to pay for parking to avoid getting fined. Data entry analyst Ronan Ooi, 28, who frequently drives into the city, said the new system would leave him with no choice but to be more vigilant about paying for parking – especially after a 50% fee hike implemented in March on Penang island. 'First, the parking fees went up, and now this. 'Sometimes I forget to pay because I am just popping in and out of a shop but now, I will have to make a conscious effort to remember.' Ronan said while he had considered switching to public transport, the services now were not convenient for his needs. 'It is not that I don't want to take the bus into the city, but they just aren't as frequent as I'd like,' he explained. Housewife Pauline Ooi, 60, echoed similar frustrations, citing both the difficulty in finding parking and inconvenience of digital payment methods. 'Finding a parking spot in town is a nightmare because of how limited the bays are. 'On top of that, I am not very tech-savvy. Still, I have no choice but to start using the app.' Hanees says he may lose customers who fear being caught by the ANPR when stopping for a short while to pack food. Hanees Gani, 42, who sells mee goreng at the Pulau Tikus Food Market in Bangkok Lane, felt it was not the right time for the implementation of the ANPR system. 'The economy is already tight for small traders like us, and this will add to our burden,' he said, adding that he might lose customers if they were not able to stop for a while to pack their food. Hanees suggested that MBPP delay the full roll-out of the system until the economic situation improved. 'At least give us time to adjust, or wait until people are in a better financial position,' he said. Revised parking fees Effective March 1, MBPP increased the parking rates by 50%, from 40sen to 60sen for 30mins, 80sen to RM1.20 for an hour, and RM6 to RM9 for a day. The monthly pass remains at RM150. On the mainland, MBSP's parking fees went up 100% from Jan 1. Under the revised rates, MBSP hourly parking is 80sen, up from 40sen, while the daily rate went up from RM3 to RM6. Monthly parking passes rose from RM75 to RM150. A new short-term option of 40sen for 30 minutes was introduced.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
230 high-tech cameras for monitoring traffic violations in Mangaluru to be commissioned soon
Traffic violations namely signal jumping, driving without helmet, over-speeding, triple riding, driving without wearing seatbelt on major roads like M.G. Road and Mangaladevi Temple Road and 32 other locations in the city henceforth will not go unnoticed as Mangaluru city police are all set to commission 230 high-tech traffic surveillance cameras newly installed. The new cameras will capture photographs and take video of each violation and send the same to the Integrated Command Control Centre at the Lalbagh. The police officer sitting at the Centre will authenticate the visuals, which will lead to issuing e-challan to owner of vehicle registered in the country. These new cameras were installed as part of the phase two of Intelligent Traffic Management System Project under Mangaluru Smart City Mission. Home Minister G. Parameshwara is expected to commission the operations of the cameras soon. As many as 15 cameras were installed in phase one of the project. The feeds of 15 cameras have multiple purposes, like for monitoring air pollution, in addition to traffic surveillance. An official from Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. said all the 230 cameras will be used for traffic enforcement and monitoring. Among these 230 cameras include 'Automated Number Plate Recognition' (ANPR) cameras, evidence cameras and 'Bullet' cameras. The official said each of the two poles placed at every location will have two ANPR cameras and a evidence camera to record movement of vehicles. While ANPR cameras will capture images of all offences, the evidence cameras are used specifically to register 'no seat belt' cases. The bullet cameras are used for traffic monitoring. A 10-second video and about 30 images of each violation captured by the cameras get transferred into the system maintained at MSCL's Integrated Command Control Centre. A police official looks at the images and saves them after verification. Then the feed is transferred to another system that is connected with the vehicle database 'Parivahan' of Union Transport Department, which is maintained by the National Informatics Centre. After verification of vehicle details displayed, the e-chalan gets generated for collecting penalty. A SMS from Parivahan is sent to the vehicle owner's mobile number and the owner will be given 15 days to file objection if any over the violation. Then link for paying penalty is sent and payment can be made using different UPI apps. The penalty gets credited to the Treasury and e-acknowledgement is sent to the mobile phone of the payee, the MSCL official said. The MSCL has connected 13 traffic signals to 'adaptive traffic management system' through which operation of signals can be controlled from MSCL's Command Control Centre, the official said. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal said trial run of new cameras is on.
