
Vizag police launch ASTraM app to resolve traffic woes
Visakhapatnam: Vizag city police have launched 'ASTraM', a mobile app aimed at resolving the city's traffic issues. Home minister V Anitha inaugurated the app, which is centred primarily on tackling traffic-related challenges.
According to Vizag city police chief Shanka Brata Bagchi, the app will gather information on traffic updates from Google Maps and similar platforms, providing alerts to traffic personnel in real-time, every 15 minutes through Telegram. These alerts will then be assigned to ground-level traffic police, who are expected to promptly reach sites of congestion and alleviate traffic bottlenecks.
Bagchi noted that the app is equipped with a variety of features, including route planning, accident reporting, traffic alerts, incident reporting, violation reporting, information about traffic fines, an event calendar, and e-attendance.
He subsequently requested the app developer to arrange a one-week training session for traffic police officers.
Anitha pointed out that Vizag city has been hosting several national and state-level events. She added that as a resident, she was aware of the traffic woes that commuters in the city face. The minister highlighted that the app is designed to be user-friendly, offering detailed traffic updates, and can be used via Telegram. Moreover, she mentioned that the app is being anticipated to be fully functional within the next three months.

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The Hindu
12 hours ago
- The Hindu
Vizag police launch ‘Astram' app to tackle traffic issues in the city
Minister for Home V. Anitha on Sunday (June 8) launched 'Astram', a traffic monitoring app designed by the Visakhapatnam City Police, during a programme at the police conference hall here. She was accompanied by Commissioner of Police Shankabratha Bagchi, Deputy Commissioner of Police V. Ajitha and a few others. Ms. Anitha said the city police have been trying to ensure a smoother traffic, and the app was being launched keeping in view the interests of public. She said that with the city growing by leaps and bounds, traffic issues have become a major problem and the government was using technology to tackle it. Mr. Shankabratha Bagchi said Visakhapatnam is the only city after Bengaluru, where the 'Astram' app will be used by the police as well as public. Though the app was launched in Vijayawada earlier, it is only being used by the police. He said that the public can get real-time updates about the traffic in the city using the app, which will can be downloaded from the Play Store. He said field officers and traffic police on duty will report traffic situations in their localities to the control room, and the data will be integrated and further shared on the app on real time. The officer added that the app allows an analysis of the cause of the traffic congestions—whether it is a vehicle breakdown, road accident, road design issue or signal problem. The police can analyse and come up with solution, he opined. He said the app will also helps design green channels during VIP movements and transportation of body organs during emergencies.


Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Vizag police launch ASTraM app to resolve traffic woes
Visakhapatnam: Vizag city police have launched 'ASTraM', a mobile app aimed at resolving the city's traffic issues. Home minister V Anitha inaugurated the app, which is centred primarily on tackling traffic-related challenges. According to Vizag city police chief Shanka Brata Bagchi, the app will gather information on traffic updates from Google Maps and similar platforms, providing alerts to traffic personnel in real-time, every 15 minutes through Telegram. These alerts will then be assigned to ground-level traffic police, who are expected to promptly reach sites of congestion and alleviate traffic bottlenecks. Bagchi noted that the app is equipped with a variety of features, including route planning, accident reporting, traffic alerts, incident reporting, violation reporting, information about traffic fines, an event calendar, and e-attendance. He subsequently requested the app developer to arrange a one-week training session for traffic police officers. Anitha pointed out that Vizag city has been hosting several national and state-level events. She added that as a resident, she was aware of the traffic woes that commuters in the city face. The minister highlighted that the app is designed to be user-friendly, offering detailed traffic updates, and can be used via Telegram. Moreover, she mentioned that the app is being anticipated to be fully functional within the next three months.
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Business Standard
19 hours ago
- Business Standard
Airtel urges RBI, NPCI and banks to collaborate on digital fraud fight
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The platform has been launched in Haryana and will be expanded to other parts of India in due course. According to Airtel, the solution is compatible with multiple communication platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, emails, web browsers and SMS. Collaboration with NPCI In a separate communication to NPCI, Airtel suggested a partnership to improve the safety of the country's digital payment infrastructure. The telecom operator proposed that awareness initiatives use the combined outreach of Airtel and NPCI to educate users on secure online behaviour, identifying phishing threats and protecting against new digital fraud methods. It also suggested workshops to develop and commercialise anti-fraud solutions to help reduce financial fraud cases. In the communication, Airtel Vice Chairman and Managing Director Gopal Vittal wrote to NPCI MD and CEO Dilip Asbe: 'The NPCI has been deploying AI-based models that offer an advanced real-time Fraud Risk Monitoring and Management solution that generates alerts and allows banks to detect and prevent fraud across all online NPCI products.' Airtel outlined specific proposals in its 16 May letter, including: 'Closer collaboration between Airtel and NPCI to create a repository of known fraudulent financial domains, enabling proactive blocking of these malicious sites and creating a multi-layered defence against digital fraud.' Airtel said its fraud detection technology, which restricts access to malicious websites and phishing links at the access point, could complement NPCI's existing systems. The telecom stated: 'Additionally, during these programmes as well as our overall telco acquisition and experience, we believe that we have strong signals that could lead to identification of potentially fraudulent transactions or users.' It also recommended joint awareness efforts and workshops to build fraud resistance in the digital payments ecosystem. 'Through this collaboration, NPCI, Airtel and the banking sector can collectively create a more robust and resilient framework for reducing fraud and building greater confidence in India's digital financial services. Airtel remains committed to doing its part and would be happy to provide further technical details and explore how we can work together with the NPCI to enhance the security and integrity of India's digital payments ecosystem,' the letter said. RBI partnership In a separate letter to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Vittal acknowledged the central bank's initiatives, including its work with regulated entities and the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) on the system. Vittal wrote: 'This powerful AI-based system has already demonstrated its ability to identify mule accounts used to route illicit funds. By analysing user behaviour and transaction patterns, banks can now flag and disable suspicious accounts more efficiently, thereby disrupting fraud at the transactional layer.' He added: 'Airtel believes that our fraud detection solution can complement these efforts by stopping fraud at the very first step: the moment a user attempts to access a malicious site.' 'Airtel remains committed to doing its part and would be happy to provide further technical details and explore how we can work together with the RBI in this critical fight against digital fraud,' Vittal stated. OTT cyber risks The company also raised concerns about security risks associated with OTT platforms. It said replicating the protection level of SMS on OTT platforms is 'impossible' because detecting and blocking fraudulent links on these platforms is more difficult compared with websites. Airtel also noted the absence of traceability, compliance obligations and regulatory access within OTT platforms. 'In this context, and in light of the ongoing RBI consultation on additional factor authentication (AFA) for digital payments, we wish to emphasise that financial transactions must continue to be conducted over secure telecom networks. Telecom networks offer a level of protection and oversight that OTT platforms currently lack, thereby helping to mitigate fraud risks and enhance overall consumer safety,' Vittal wrote. Banking industry Airtel's collaboration proposals received positive feedback from both private and public sector banks. 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