30,000 security personnel, 3,300 CCTV cameras, AI surveillance to secure 149th Ahmedabad Rath Yatra

Ahmedabad, Jul 14 (PTI) More than 30,000 security personnel will be deployed for the 149th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on July 16, wherein AI-powered surveillance, drone cameras and facial recognition technology will also be utilised to strengthen security and crowd management, police said. Over 3,300 CCTV cameras will also be installed along the route of the rath yatra procession, they said. Usually, nearly 15 lakh devotees turn up on the route as well as at the temple to witness the annual procession, which will cover a 16-km route before returning to the Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area of the city around 9 pm. Ahmedabad city Commissioner of Police Anupam Singh Gahlaut said, "A total of more than 30,000 personnel, including regular police, Home Guards and Traffic Brigade (TRB) jawans, will be deployed." The security arrangement will also include 15 companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP), nine companies of paramilitary forces and more than 1,000 officers from the rank of Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) to Inspector General of Police (IGP). The city police on Monday conducted a flag march-cum-rehearsal along the entire procession route, during which deployment, briefings and coordination among various units were reviewed. Gahlaut said technology would play a major role in this year's security plan. "As many as 65 drone cameras will supervise the entire route. Every detail will be recorded and used for early warning purposes," he said. More than 3,300 CCTV cameras have been installed along the route, while AI-enabled video analytics will be used for crowd movement and to alert police in time, the police commissioner said. "We have integrated AI into these cameras installed at key locations so that if a crowd forms anywhere, we can immediately take steps to either stop the formation or divert the crowd, ensuring people do not face any trouble," Gahlaut told reporters. He said face-recognition cameras have been integrated into the surveillance network after uploading photographs of anti-social elements and pickpockets so that their movement can be detected instantly. Police will also monitor live feeds from body-worn cameras, mobile communication vehicles and other surveillance systems deployed along the route, Gahlaut said. The Cyber Crime team will keep a close watch on social media platforms to prevent the spread of rumours and misinformation during the yatra, he said. To strengthen public confidence ahead of the procession, the city police have been conducting patrolling, route marches, peace committee meetings and mohalla committee meetings in different parts of Ahmedabad over the past several days, Gahlaut said. "The overall atmosphere is very good. I am confident that with the cooperation of the people and the media, the security arrangements will be successfully executed," he said. He said the police have also installed public address systems at several locations to communicate with devotees and issue instructions whenever required. Appealing for public cooperation, Gahlaut urged citizens not to pay attention to rumours and to immediately inform the police if they notice any suspicious activity instead of circulating unverified information. The annual rath yatra will commence from the Lord Jagannath temple at around 7 am on July 16 and return to the temple at around 9 pm after passing through the traditional 16-km route across the city, he said. Traditionally, the procession, led by chariots, starts early at around 7 am from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in the Jamalpur area of the city and returns after touring the old city, including some communally-sensitive areas. The procession usually comprises 18 elephants, 100 trucks, and 30 akhadas (local gymnasiums), which will cover a distance of 16 km during the day. The raths (chariots) of Lord Jagganath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra will be pulled by the Khalasi community as per the age-old tradition. Lakhs of people gather on both sides of the entire route to have a glimpse of the deity. PTI PJT PD NP