High-Tech Leap

From cable TV to OFC infrastructure, Surat-based RK Infratel's technology bets are paying it rich returns.

- Amit Brahmabhatt

A car zips past at a high speed and jumps a traffic signal. The car driver, who is not wearing his seat belt, beams with pride for getting away with breaking traffic rules. A few days later, to his utter shock, the driver receives a computer-generated challan, delivered to his house. The challan contains a photograph of the car, a list of traffic violations, details of time, date and place of the offence, the vehicle number and the penalty.

Sounds impossible in India? Read on. Welcome to Surat, India's textile and diamond hub, which also boasts of housing the country's first city surveillance project. The high-tech project has made it possible to spot and trace traffic violations, like the one mentioned above, at a click of a button.

"What makes this project unique is seamless and uninterrupted 10,000mbps OFC (optic fibre cable) connectivity, covering over 320 km across 112 locations in Surat," explains Rajendra Sheth as his face brightens up with enthusiasm. The 52-year-old chairman and managing director of RK Infratel - the technological backbone behind the Surat project - is more than happy to be a vital part of securing the city.

In 2012, Mr Sheth's RK Infratel won the bid to cover entire Surat with an underground OFC network as a part of the Surat Safe City project, initiated by the city police and Surat Traffic Education Trust. The Surat-headquartered OFC infrastructure company went on to execute the project within the stipulated four months. For the past four years, the success of the surveillance project has attracted representatives from more than 50 countries.