Bengaluru, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India, is not only known for its bustling IT industry but also notorious for its traffic congestion. Navigating through the streets of this vibrant city can be a herculean task, with endless streams of vehicles fighting for space on the roads.
The government authorities and traffic police are trying their best to tackle this burden, but their efforts always fail to succeed. The city has seen a significant rise in population post-COVID restriction, and the number of vehicles on the roads rose with the population.
Expansion of the existing metro network was considered a potential solution for overpowering traffic blocks. But as we know, construction of these large-scale infrastructures takes time, and the ongoing construction works have even worsened the traffic situation.
Traffic police have been deployed in every city signal to monitor and intervene in roadblocks. This measure is effective but fails to solve the issue as a whole. As a solution, the traffic police have decided to opt for aerial surveillance with the help of drones.
On Monday, The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) conducted a drone test flight for the aerial surveillance program at Hebbal junction. This was an experimental initiative, and it was reported that they would continue to test the drone cameras at Marathahalli junction on Tuesday.
The traffic police have recently received two drone cameras to monitor the density of traffic at junctions. This initiative aims to familiarise them with the operation and functioning of the drones.
M N Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), commented on the initiative: “The idea was to understand the traffic requirements and acclimate ourselves to the technology. We have conducted trials today and will continue to do so for the next week to gain expertise with the system,”.
The traffic police aim to conduct drone camera trials at eight of the most crowded junctions in the city. Their objective is to monitor the movement of vehicles and take appropriate actions to regulate congestion in affected areas.
It is still being determined how this initiative will solve traffic congestion, and the police need time to familiarise themselves with operating the drone. Both aspects require time and effort to function smoothly.
Nevertheless, we should acknowledge and commend this effort put forth by the Bengaluru Traffic Police. If successful, the traffic police can monitor the traffic situation in real time from a broader perspective and take necessary actions.
