Kochi: SRIT India Ltd, a Bengaluru-based technology infrastructure company, has approached the Kerala High Court seeking a directive to the state government to clear pending payments related to the implementation and continuous operation of the state-wide AI-enabled automated traffic enforcement and road safety project under the Safe Kerala initiative.
Court Proceedings
The bench of Justice A A Ziyad Rahman sought instructions from the government on the petition and adjourned the matter to June 4 for further hearing. The court's intervention comes after the company alleged that a sum of Rs 36.95 crore remains outstanding towards quarterly payments due to it, apart from payments that were released only after prolonged and arbitrary delays.
Company's Allegations
In its petition, SRIT India claimed that it had been selected through a transparent tender process conducted by KELTRON, which acted as the project management consultant (PMC). The company invested substantial financial resources and successfully implemented the project across the state. This included the installation and operationalisation of AI-enabled enforcement systems at 726 locations, the establishment of 14 district control rooms and a central control room, as well as supporting IT infrastructure, mobile enforcement systems and allied facilities.
Impact of Withheld Payments
Despite the successful implementation and continued operation of the project, substantial quarterly payments have allegedly been withheld, prompting the company to approach the court. The company further contended that the continued withholding of admitted dues would cause it irreparable loss, injury, hardship and damage. It also submitted that the continued operation of the public safety project could be jeopardised if the payments were not released.
The petition underscores the financial strain on the company and the potential risk to the public safety project if the dues remain unpaid. The court has sought the government's response, with the next hearing scheduled for June 4.
