Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress leader V.D. Satheesan on Monday questioned the alleged "irregularities" in the AI camera project to regulate traffic in the state.
He told the media that it is mind-boggling that the cost of installing one camera is Rs 9.5 lakhs and the cost of maintenance is Rs 9 lakh. "At one-tenth of this cost, one can get international brands of AI cameras, which will come with five years of the annual maintenance contract." The entire project costs Rs 232 crores.
The Opposition leader said that the state public sector Keltron, which bagged the contract, has sub-contracted it to other firms which have no previous expertise in this field. And Keltron is also buying parts and assembling. "In the 10-page cabinet note on this project, there is no mention of giving a sub-contract, and gives the impression that everything is being done by Keltron."
He further said that even the cabinet ministers had no clue of what was going on.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the project last week.
V.D. Satheesan demanded that the CM come clean on the matter and explain the details. "We have learnt that all such works end up at the hands of power brokers who hail from Kannur, the home district of the CM.
Earlier, former LoP, Ramesh Chennithala had said that the sub-contract for the AI camera project was won by Bengaluru-based company, SRIT India Pvt Ltd. He said this is in violation of the tender. The company has no previous experience in this line of business. He further alleged that SRIT India Pvt Ltd then entered a sub-contract with two Kerala-based companies - Light Master Lighting India Ltd at Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram and Rasadio Technologies Private Ltd at Malaparamba in Kozhikode.
He also claimed that if the government does not come clean on the matter, he will be forced to reveal more.