Bengaluru Region Smart Roads Face Payment Challenge
A network of intelligent traffic surveillance cameras along the Mysuru–Bengaluru highway is reshaping how road discipline is monitored in southern Karnataka, but new official data shows that enforcement is running far ahead of compliance. While violations are being detected at scale, the bulk of penalties imposed on motorists remain unpaid, raising questions about the effectiveness of digital governance in fast-growing urban corridors.The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) covers key stretches of National Highway 275 across Ramanagara, Mandya and Mysuru, a corridor that supports daily commuter flows, freight movement, and real estate-led suburban expansion. Equipped with automatic number plate recognition, the cameras identify speeding, wrong-side driving, lane indiscipline, seat belt violations and restricted-entry breaches, automatically issuing penalty alerts to registered vehicle owners.
According to consolidated figures placed before the legislature, nearly 1.93 million traffic offences were recorded across 2024 and 2025 through this system. The scale reflects both the intensity of travel on the Mysuru–Bengaluru highway and the growing reliance on technology-driven enforcement as cities attempt to reduce accidents, congestion and emissions linked to erratic driving behaviour. The financial data, however, reveals a widening gap between penalties levied and revenue realised. In 2024, violations generated penalties worth close to ₹94 crore, yet collections stood at under ₹9 crore. The following year saw a reduction in the number of offences, with penalties amounting to about ₹40 crore, but recoveries remained limited at just over ₹4 crore. In total, more than ₹120 crore in fines across the two years is still outstanding.
Urban transport planners say this disconnect highlights a structural challenge in smart mobility systems. Automated enforcement improves detection and data accuracy, but without streamlined payment mechanisms and credible follow-up, behavioural change remains limited. “Technology can flag violations instantly, but compliance depends on trust, ease of payment, and visible outcomes such as safer roads,” noted an urban mobility expert familiar with highway safety programmes. The Mysuru–Bengaluru highway has become a critical spine for regional development, supporting logistics parks, housing clusters and satellite townships. Persistent traffic violations undermine not only road safety but also productivity and environmental goals, as congestion and accidents increase fuel use and emissions. For climate-conscious urban planning, enforcement must translate into safer, smoother traffic flow rather than merely higher penalty numbers on paper.
Officials involved in transport governance indicate that efforts are underway to integrate ITMS data with vehicle databases and digital payment platforms, aiming to improve recovery rates and deterrence. There is also discussion around linking unpaid fines to vehicle renewals and insurance processes, a move that could significantly alter compliance levels. As Indian cities invest heavily in smart infrastructure, the experience of the Mysuru–Bengaluru corridor offers a clear lesson: digital systems are only as effective as the institutional follow-through behind them. Closing the gap between detection and compliance will be essential if intelligent highways are to support safer, more inclusive and sustainable urban growth.
