Aerial surveillance to check crime in 7 major cities

Helicopters with gun-toting commandos and sophisticated surveillance gadgets will soon keep vigil over seven major cities in the country under a Home Ministry project aimed at checking crime.
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad will get helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles fitted with high-powered cameras, sensors and other surveillance equipment under the Home Ministry's Safe City Project.
The ministry has said in its latest guidelines that it is essential to have surveillance from air with regard to law and order and other crime-related activities in the cities.
"The air surveillance can be obtained by positioning various equipment i.E. Balloons, UAVs, helicopters etc. Which should have gadgets like cameras, sensors etc. To cater to specialised requirements on the occasion," the guidelines said.

The data (video, audio, text) collected from these devices should be fed to the Command Control Centre for necessary action for both preventive and post-incident operations.
These elements can also act as a deterrent for criminal elements.
The Home Ministry said the cities should be covered with a network of CCTVs. The network must cover vital public places and critical infrastructure.
It could also cover public places like airports, railway stations, metro stations, bus stations, public hospitals, universities, schools and colleges, major crossings and roundabout on the roads and important government buildings.