Pune police to ramp up surveillance at 22 secluded spots

Pune, Jul 8 (PTI) In an attempt to make isolated areas safer, Pune police will enhance surveillance at 22 secluded spots, including hills and ghats, by installing emergency call boxes (ECBs), AI-enabled cameras, public announcement (PA) systems, smart floodlights, and other equipment.

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

Assistant Commissioner of Police (IT) Vivek Pawar said, "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 said the ECBs are designed to provide a direct line of communication with emergency services, especially 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 said.

To enable connectivity, a fibre-optic trench was laid from Khadi Machin Chowk to Bopdev Ghat, and smart floodlights, remotely operated from the control room, have also been installed.

"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," Pawar said.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh said apart from Bopdev Ghat, 21 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.

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.

Deshmukh said the initiative aims to curb crimes such as sexual assault, theft and robbery and make these locations safer for joggers, trekkers and tourists. PTI SPK ARU