Bhubaneswar: The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra began on 7th July this year. Odisha Police will be deploying AI-powered CCTV and drone systems for enhancing the safety of all attendees. The use of AI technology as a pilot project in the crowd control and management of this age-old Chariot festival will be a First to be witnessed. The CCTV cameras and drones will be deployed at roughly 40 locations. The primary focus will be on improving traffic and crowd control. The technology will crack down on blind spots in areas prone to traffic jams.
“This is the first time, as a pilot project, we are trying to use AI-based CCTV coverage where all those CCTV points which we have around 40 points where we have placed CCTV cameras. We would be using AI amalgamated with the CCTV system. We would also be using a drone system to identify the blind spots, identify the jam areas. We are also using drones along with the PA (Public address) system so that there are 4-5 identified spots every year where we normally face huge traffic jams and to help assist the police officers," Additional DGP, Odisha, Dayal Gangwar said.
The President of India; Droupadi Murmu, also participated in the Yatra in the city of Puri.
In a post on X, she wrote about her experience: "Jai Jagannath! It was a deeply divine experience to witness the pulling of the three chariots of Bhagwan Balabhadra, Mata Subhadra and Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannathji by thousands of devotees during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri today. "
Tight Security arrangements need to be put in place every year to prevent mishaps, casualties and injuries amidst the vast crowd of the followers of Jagannath Puri Yatra. The security arrangements and deployment of a large number of security personnel ensure safety of the devotees, but are also susceptible to human error. Their efforts can get bolstered by use of advanced technologies.
Back home in India, the UP Police too used AI for crowd monitoring and surveillance in the Kumbh Mela; the largest religious gathering on earth, in January this year
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