Pune police boost surveillance in secluded areas with AI tech

In an effort to enhance safety in isolated areas, Pune police are set to bolster surveillance at 22 secluded spots, including hills and ghats. This initiative will involve the installation of emergency call boxes (ECBs), AI-enabled cameras, public announcement (PA) systems, smart floodlights, and other crucial equipment, news agency PTI reported.

As part of a pilot project, high-resolution AI-enabled cameras, including PTZ (pan, tilt, and zoom) units, remotely operated PA speakers, floodlights, and ECBs have already been deployed at Bopdev Ghat. This location is a known `black spot` where a 21-year-old woman was allegedly raped, as her friend assaulted in October 2024.

Moreover, Assistant Commissioner of Police (IT) Vivek Pawar stated, “These installations are monitored live from a command centre. If any suspicious activity is spotted, announcements can be made remotely asking people to vacate the area.”

He further explained that the ECBs are specifically designed to provide a direct line of communication with emergency services, particularly vital in areas with no mobile network. 

“The boxes, currently on trial at Bopdev Ghat, have a panic button that triggers an alert at the command centre. The operator can establish two-way communication and view the caller through an inbuilt camera,” he added.

Moreover, to ensure the connectivity, a fibre-optic trench has been laid from Khadi Machin Chowk to Bopdev Ghat, and smart floodlights, controllable remotely from the command centre, have also been installed. 

Pawar detailed the scale of the Bopdev Ghat deployment, “Bopdev Ghat alone will have 40 cameras, including nine PTZ units, nine ECBs, 11 PA systems and 22 floodlights. Drone surveillance is also being considered.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed that beyond Bopdev Ghat, 21 other hilly areas in and around Pune have been identified as vulnerable in terms of public safety.

“In the next three months, around 160 ECBs, 231 PA speakers, 12 dedicated drones and 609 high-resolution CCTV cameras, including 200 with PTZ capability, will be installed,” he told PTI.

According to PTI, the other areas that will come under surveillance include Taljai Hill, Hanuman Tekdi, Vetal Tekdi, Baner Hills, ARAI Hills, Khadakwasala Dam, Arneshwar Temple, Dighi Ghat, Pashan Lake, Parvati Hills, Bolai Mata Mandir, Jogeshwar temple, Gangadham Tekdi, Dighi Hills, Katraj`s old tunnel, Chatushringi Hills, Pune University entry/exit points, Parsi Ground, NIBM Forest area, Ramtekdi and Janata Vasahat Canal Road.

Meanwhiile, Deshmukh concluded by stating that the initiative`s primary aim is to curb crimes such as sexual assault, theft, and robbery, thereby making these locations safer for joggers, trekkers, and tourists.

(With inputs from PTI)

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