DMP to install 1,000 'plug & play' cameras to restore traffic order in Dhaka
In a Nutshell:
- DMP plans to buy 1,000 plug and play cameras for traffic monitoring.
- DMP currently operates 37 AI cameras at 16 points in Dhaka. Officials also said around 50 more AI cameras will be added.
- Plug and play cameras will allow cases to be filed later using recorded footage.
- DMP launched its AI traffic violation detection system in April.
Why it Matters
The expansion follows earlier AI camera deployment, which was introduced to detect violations including signal jumping, lane violations, wrong side driving and illegal parking. With each AI camera costing more than Tk60,000 and DMP planning to increase coverage across the capital, the move signals a broader shift towards technology based traffic enforcement.
What We Think
Moving traffic enforcement onto cameras could make authorities less dependent on roadside checks by creating a record of violations that can be reviewed later. But with DMP already handling more than 50,000 traffic cases every month, the question is not just whether cameras can catch more offenders, but whether they can actually change how people drive. Expanding from 37 AI cameras to around 1,000 additional plug and play cameras gives DMP a much wider view of Dhaka’s roads, but the system will only work if people see it as fair, accurate and focused on safer roads rather than simply generating more cases and fines.
