BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate police have decided to adopt drone-camera surveillance system for effective crowd control and traffic management during the coming Men's Hockey World Cup . Altogether 16 countries are scheduled to take part in the tournament to he held at Kalinga Stadium here from November 28 to December 16."We have sent a proposal to the government to purchase a drone system equipped with real-time aerial surveillance cameras and data-gathering sensors. The drone will hover over Kalinga Stadium and other arterial routes to keep tabs on movement of vehicles and crowds," commissioner of police Satyajit Mohanty said. He added that a control room will be set up at the Kalinga Stadium to keep a watch on the visuals captured by the drone camera.If the government agrees to purchase the drone, this will be the first time the state police will use the unmanned aerial vehicle for crowd control and traffic management. "We have CCTV cameras in and around the stadium. Cameras have also been installed at major junctions in the city. But the drone camera will give us the exact picture of traffic snarls and congregation of crowd. This will help us mobilise police immediataley to address the issues," Mohanty said.Police said the drone camera will also be used to take stock of security arrangements and detect danger in and around hotels where players, their delegates and family members will put up. Players of all the 16 countries will stay in six or seven hotels in Bhubaneswar. The hotels have also been asked to put in place latest security gadgets like luggage scanners, door-frame metal detectors and high-frequency CCTV cameras.Police said the drone will supplement the massive security arrangement for the mega sporting event. While nearly 80 platoons of police force will be deployed for the smooth conduct of the World Cup, according to preliminary security assessment, at least seven armed police personnel may be attached to each team.The seven personnel include a personal security officer (PSO) and a pilot van, comprising six cops. For the Pakistan team, police plan to engage at least 15 armed police personnel, including three PSOs, considering the high level of security threat.Police said they will also regulate the flying of the private drones by people, mostly mediapersons."We will not allow everyone to use drones. Mediapersons will be allowed to use the camera drones. But they need to inform the police well in advance and seek permission for the same," Mohanty said.

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