logo
3,500 AI-enabled cameras to guard Delhi under 'Safe City' project from October 1

3,500 AI-enabled cameras to guard Delhi under 'Safe City' project from October 1

Time of India12-07-2025
From October 1, Delhi will activate 3,500 AI-enabled cameras as part of the 'Safe City' project to boost policing and women's safety. Equipped with facial recognition, gunshot sensors, and real-time alerts, the system aims to enhance surveillance, rapid response, and accountability across high-risk and densely populated areas.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Come October 1, Delhi's streets will have over 3,500 activated Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled cameras, gunshot sensors and alert systems under the first phase of the 'Safe City' project aimed at transforming the functioning of police in the national capital, an official said on Saturday.Equipped with Artificial Intelligence Video Analytics (AIVA), the system will issue real-time alerts on incidents like shootings, crimes against women, stolen vehicles and abandoned objects.The move comes nearly two years after the horrific Kanjhawala incident on the night of December 31, 2022, when a 20-year-old woman was dragged for over 12 km by a car in outer Delhi. The incident shocked the nation and prompted a massive review of surveillance gaps in the city."After the Kanjhawala case, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed us to audit vulnerable areas. We found that around 10,000 additional cameras were needed. This project is being implemented in phases and will cover high-risk and densely populated zones first," a senior police officer said.In the first phase, a total of 3,500 cameras will go live, drawn from a larger pool of 6,121 bullet cameras, 1,622 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, 370 Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras, and 1,876 Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras.Additionally, the project includes 200 gunshot detection systems -- each comprising three acoustic sensors -- and 300 public address systems (speakers). These will be strategically installed to provide real-time alerts and enable public communication during emergencies."These are not just passive CCTV cameras. They are intelligent systems with AI-based video analytics. The system will instantly alert our Integrated Command, Control, Communication and Computer Centre (C4i) at police headquarters when it detects any abnormal activity," the officer added.The alerts will also be forwarded simultaneously to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) offices and local police stations. This tiered structure will ensure faster response and accountability.At the heart of the Safe City project is the goal of strengthening women's safety. The AI software in these cameras is programmed to flag high-risk scenarios such as a woman being isolated and surrounded by a group of men, or a woman waving her hands seeking help."Both scenarios will automatically trigger high-priority alerts. A nearby PCR unit will be dispatched without waiting for a formal complaint. This is proactive policing," the official said.Areas with high concentrations of women residents, such as hostels, PG accommodations, college campuses and workplaces, are being prioritised for deployment. Locations known for frequent cases of harassment, snatching and eve-teasing are also being mapped and covered under this surveillance net.The system will also monitor crowd gatherings and alert authorities to potential flashpoints. If more than 50 individuals are detected congregating at a location not designated for public assembly, a high-priority alert will be generated.A gathering of fewer than 50 people will be flagged as a low-priority event.In addition, the technology will track abandoned objects, detect gunfire, and scan for hotlisted vehicles or persons.The ANPR cameras will be able to identify stolen, suspicious, or blacklisted vehicles in real time, while FRS cameras will match faces against a police database of over 20,000 known criminals.In case of a gunshot, the acoustic sensor will immediately relay the direction of the sound, prompting a PTZ camera to pan and zoom toward the source, offering investigators a real-time visual."Once an alert is received, the operator at C4i will verify its authenticity. If genuine, it is assigned a priority level, and the nearest patrol unit is mobilised. If the alert is found to be false, it is dismissed with proper reasoning," the officer explained.The system is also designed to serve as a force multiplier for the Delhi Police. By capturing high-definition, time-stamped visuals of incidents, the footage will offer evidentiary support in court and help in post-incident analysis.Supervisory officers will be able to review how on-ground personnel responded to situations, helping improve accountability and operational effectiveness."It's a training tool as well. Officers' performance in crisis situations can be reviewed to improve responses in future. This is not just about technology, but also about transforming the way we police the city," the officer said.The first phase is expected to dramatically change how Delhi Police monitors and responds to crimes in public spaces.The remaining two phases of the project are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, eventually bringing the entire capital under the lens of AI-backed surveillance.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Detainees being released, but crackdown on ‘illegal immigrants' continues in Gurugram
Detainees being released, but crackdown on ‘illegal immigrants' continues in Gurugram

The Hindu

time13 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Detainees being released, but crackdown on ‘illegal immigrants' continues in Gurugram

In a major crackdown, the Gurugram police have detained individuals for allegedly staying in the city without valid documents as part of a special drive being carried out in adherence to orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs to identify and deport 'illegal immigrants'. Over the past week, hundreds of suspected 'illegal immigrants' were reportedly sent to detention centres for verification of documents. However, the drive has drawn widespread criticism over the alleged harassment of detainees and targeting of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from Assam and West Bengal. A visit on Sunday (July 27, 2025) to the special holding centres designated by the district administration showed that many detainees were being released. The special holding centre in Gurugram's Sector 10A, a dimly-lit hall at a community centre, stood empty with only a pile of carpets and a few packets of 'pav (bread)' lying in a dark corner. 'There were around 70 Bengali-speaking people kept in this room three days ago. Most of them were from Assam and West Bengal. They were all kept locked inside this room with four policemen keeping guard outside. But they were all let off two days ago,' said Krishna, the security guard at the community centre. Pritam, the lone sanitation worker at the centre, recalled struggling to keep the premises clean with numerous detainees sharing a single toilet. 'It's good that they have gone. The police personnel have also left. I hope they won't return,' he said. Three other such centres have been set up in Gurugram's Sector 40, Manesar's Sector 1, and Badshahpur to detain Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya refugees found to be staying illegally in the country. The holding centre at Manesar is also currently empty. According to the security guard, 35 of the 45 detainees were released by the police a couple of days ago, while 10 were taken away in a police vehicle. A constable deployed at the centre said despite the reduced number of detainees, 10 police personnel remained deployed there. 'The holding centre has not been shut. No fresh raids are being carried out as the police are busy holding the two-day Common Eligibility Test across the State. More detainees could come tomorrow (Monday) morning,' said the constable from the Pataudi police station. He added that he was part of the team conducting raids to identify and apprehend 'illegal immigrants', but declined to be identified. 'Special teams have been constituted in each police station to hold the raids, which are mostly conducted in the early hours of the day. The raids have been going on for the past 20 days, but these centres were set up a week ago,' he said. At the centre in Gurugram's Sector 40, several policemen were found playing cards and they said there was currently only one detainee. 'We are here as more detainees could come,' one of them said. Gurugram Police spokesperson Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar confirmed that the drive was still ongoing and suspects would be brought to the holding centres for further probe. 'Only those suspected of staying illegally in the country are brought to these centres. Those without identity documents or found making calls to Bangladesh, raising suspicion, are detained for further investigation,' he said. Basra, a 50-year-old meat shop owner in Chakkarpur's 'Macchi Mandi', said there have been no fresh police raids in the area over the past two days. 'The police teams came two or three times last week to check documents, but there have been no raids now,' he said. Meanwhile, Nuh MLA and former Haryana Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed condemned the treatment of migrant workers from Assam and West Bengal, mostly Muslims, during the verification drive, calling it 'inhuman, shameful, and unfortunate'. Mr. Ahmed alleged that the drive was creating an environment of fear, forcing people to flee Gurugram. Drawing a parallel with the treatment of non-Marathi speakers in Maharashtra, he claimed the Gurugram police were similarly targeting citizens in Haryana. He added that he has brought this matter to the attention of the State Director General of Police.

Punjab's jails to get AI surveillance, 5G jammers in Rs 252 crore overhaul
Punjab's jails to get AI surveillance, 5G jammers in Rs 252 crore overhaul

New Indian Express

time13 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Punjab's jails to get AI surveillance, 5G jammers in Rs 252 crore overhaul

CHANDIGARH: In a major push to modernise its prison infrastructure and security measures, the Punjab government is rolling out advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based surveillance systems, full-body scanners, and 5G jammers across all 14 jails in the state. The initiative aims to curb drug smuggling, mobile phone use, and in-prison violence, while also addressing overcrowding. The state has sanctioned Rs 252 crore for comprehensive jail upgrades. Of this, Rs 126 crore is for installing security equipment and Rs 126 crore for constructing new barracks to accommodate over 5,000 additional inmates. According to senior government officials, AI-enabled CCTV systems will be installed in 11 jails this year as part of a state-wide rollout. 'This will help in detection and generating alerts on identification of throws from over the walls, crowd detection, entry into prohibited zones, entry or exit of foreign objects,' an official said. The Prison Inmate Calling System has also been expanded, with 800 calling machines installed to ensure inmates can legally communicate with their families without resorting to unauthorised means.

Spanish Teen Being Investigated Over Nude AI Images Of Classmates
Spanish Teen Being Investigated Over Nude AI Images Of Classmates

NDTV

time15 hours ago

  • NDTV

Spanish Teen Being Investigated Over Nude AI Images Of Classmates

Spanish police said Sunday they were investigating a 17-year-old on suspicion of using artificial intelligence to deepfake nude images of female classmates for sale. The probe was launched after 16 young women at an educational institute in the Valencia region came forward to complain of AI-generated images of them circulating on social media and the internet. The first complaint was lodged in December by an adolescent who said an AI-generated video and faked photos resembling her "completely naked" were posted on a social media account started under her name. As more accusations came in, police suspected the images were the work of a student in the same institute, according to a statement by the police. Tracking the IP addresses used to create the bogus accounts led them to the home of the 17-year-old now under investigation on suspicion of corruption of minors. It is not the first time that Spanish authorities have detected AI-created pornographic images of minors. The government in March said it would put forward a law to treat such deepfaked sexual imagery created by AI without consent as a crime. The bill, which Madrid claims to be a first in Europe, has yet to be passed by the parliament.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store