ALLAHABAD: A network of 1,147 high definition CCTV cameras, software for crowd analytics and a team of IT experts will be a part of Mela police’s hi-tech surveillance plan for the forthcoming Kumbh-2019.The department will also set up 135 watch towers and put up variable message display (VMD) boards to maintain vigil during the grand religious fair, which commences from January 15.A team of 120 experts would be working round the clock—40 personnel working eight-hour shifts—on the surveillance and crowd management plan at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) being set up at the Mela ground. During the Kumbh-2019, the ICCC would be assisting Mela police to maintain a close watch on the activities of visitors and vehicle entering or exiting the venue.The team of IT experts would send regular alerts and messages to senior Mela police officials. Additional SP (Kumbh –operations) Purnendu Singh, said, “Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) has developed two software to be used for surveillance and crowd management during the Mela. They are currently in testing phase.”“The entire system would start functioning from January 13 before the Kumbh-2019 begins,” he added. Singh said that it would be the first time that the Mela police would be using artificial intelligence tools for crowd management. The software being developed for crowd analytics will help Mela police 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.Once recorded, police would be able to trace the location of any vehicle at any time. The high definition cameras, installed across the city, have already started functioning and would also helping in ease congestion on roads.Faculty member of MNNIT, Mayanak Pandey, who’s working on the crowd management software, said “MNNIT experts are helping the Mela police to enhance its surveillance system.”SSP (Kumbh) KP Singh, said, “Apart from deploying adequate units of civil police and paramilitary forces, the Mela police would be using VMDs for the first time to guide the crowd about various routes leading up to Mela ground.”

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