Hi-tech surveillance plan for Magh Mela

Prayagraj: A network of 1,147 high definition CCTV cameras (installed across city under Smart city project) along with 100 CCTV sets installed on mela campus along with a team of IT experts will be a part of Magh Mela police’s hi-tech surveillance plan for annual religious fair. Apart from CCTV network, the mela police has also set up 18 watch towers including 14 fire department’s watch towers that will help mela authorities to maintain an extensive vigil during the mega religious fair. Mela area, spread around 650 hectares, has been divdied into five sectors and over 3,500 policemen including personnel of para military forces were being deployed for elaborate security. The 44-days Magh mela is commencing from January 6. A team of 60 experts would be working round the clock— 8 personnel working eight-hour shifts—on the surveillance and crowd management plan at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) being setup at the Mela ground. During the magh mela, the ICCC would be assisting mela police to maintain a close watch on the activities of visitors and vehicles entering or exiting the venue. There a total 16 entry points to mela campus. The team of IT experts would send regular alerts and messages to senior Mela police officials performing their duty at static points.
SSP (Magh Mela) Dr Rajiv Narayan Mishra told TOI,“Apart from elaborate security arrangements, mela police have drafted a blue print for crowd and traffic management for the annual religious fair”. He added “On the occasion of main snan days i.e Paush Purnima ( January 6), Makar Sankranti ( January 14\15), Mauni Amavasya (January 21), Basant Panchmi ( January 26), Maghi Purnima ( February 5) and Mahashivratri ( February 18) , officials of all government departments including power, health, jal nigam, urban development, police, PWD, PMC etc would also be appointed at ICCC to sort out grievances of devotees and visitors.”
The ICCC would help mela authorities to coordinate with everyone to take up all activities smoothly, said SSP. More importantly, mela police would issue a helpline no 1920 to assist visitors and personnel sitting at ICCC would receive the call and further forward it to department concerned officials to get it solved. The entire system would start functioning from January 5 before the Magh mela begins, he added. The mela police had utilized the latest and advanced technology including artificial intelligence tools for crowd management during 2019 Mahakumbh. The software being developed for crowd analytics had helped Kumbh Mela police to assess the density of the crowd at a particular spot \sector \ street and sending inputs and photographs to senior policemen for further course of action.
This time too, the high definition cameras, installed across the city and functioning round the clock, will help police to access about volume of crowd at particular spot and helping cops to draft plan to ease congestion on roads in coming days particularly main snan days.