Latest news with #ShankaBrataBagchi
Time of India
18 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.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
Vizag police recover Rs 1 crore worth stolen property in April
Visakhapatnam: The Vizag city police achieved a significant milestone in terms of crime prevention and detection. The police recovered stolen goods, including gold, bikes, mobile phones, and valuables worth over Rs one crore in April 2025. City police commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi said that a total of 123 property offences were reported in Vizag city last month. The police have detected 98 cases, arrested 81 property offenders, recovered over 560 grams of gold ornaments, 700 grams of silver ornaments, Rs 7.84 lakh in cash, 54 bikes, 380 mobile phones and a few others, all worth over Rs one crore from the offenders. Out of the 98 detected cases in April, one was a case of robbery, 10 cases were about house-break-in incidents, 10 snatching cases, 54 cases of bike thefts, and a few others. A total of 5,754 mobile phones (stolen and lost phones) worth Rs 8.63 crore were recovered in the past sixteen months in Vizag city. The police handed over the stolen property to the owners during the recovery mela on Tuesday. The police stated that to prevent future crimes, they have implemented a multi-faceted approach, installed 482 CCTV cameras across the city, significantly enhancing surveillance capabilities. The department also conducted 156 crime awareness meetings to educate the public about criminal activities and prevention strategies. Furthermore, they implemented special patrolling in crime-prone areas. The police chief said they have formed special teams to prevent the possible online and off-line cricket betting.
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Hans India
Police detected 98 cases in April
Visakhapatnam: The city police cracked 98 property offence cases in the month of April, informed City Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi. Briefing the media on Tuesday about the crime cases cracked in April, the Commissioner mentioned that the city police detected 98 cases during the month and arrested 81 property offenders involved in different crimes. 562.045 grams of gold ornaments, 701.775 grams of silver ware, 54 two-wheelers, and cash to the tune of Rs.7.84 lakh, were recovered by the police. The CP mentioned that 123 property offences were reported in the last month. Shanka Brata Bagchi stated that special teams were formed for detection of property offences. The teams used technical methods, investigated the cases from different perspectives. As part of preventive measures, the Commissioner mentioned that 482 CC cameras were installed across the city. About 156 awareness meetings were held by the crime wing officers to create awareness among the public, he added. The CP informed that drones were used at 82 different places during daytime as well as 88 places at nights for surveillance. The Commissioner mentioned that 365 mobile phones worth Rs.54.75 lakh were recovered and handed over to the owners.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
New summer gear gives huge respite to traffic police in Visakhapatnam
The Police Department has introduced summer-specific gear, in a major step towards ensuring the well-being of traffic personnel. Officers are being equipped with air-conditioned helmets and cooling jackets designed to regulate body temperature while on duty. Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police, Shanka Brata Bagchi, provided cool jackets, caps and other gear for the personnel, at two separate programmes. On May 10 (Saturday), the police chief distributed air-conditioned helmets to the traffic police, claimed to be a first in the State. According to Mr. Bagchi, the helmets are manufactured by Poly Propylene Co-polymer material and work with Active Cooling technology. He said that the 740 gram-helmet will work for nearly eight hours if charged for four hours. The city has been experiencing a temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius for the past few weeks. Accompanied by heatwaves, the traffic police officers deployed at major city junctions have been facing harsh conditions, and are the most affected. 'We undergo a lot of stress, headaches, and body pain standing for hours in this heat,' said a traffic police officer posted at a busy intersection in the city. 'We make sure to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration, but it is still very tough,' he added. According to the traffic personnel, the heat generally makes it difficult for officers to carry out their duties comfortably, especially in the afternoon between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. 'It becomes unbearable, especially during the afternoon shift at major junctions. Even if we try to sit inside the outpost or stand under a shade, our body is affected. Fortunately, due to the heatwaves the traffic movement is minimal during afternoons,' he said. The police personnel said that they take utmost precautions to beat the heat by carrying water bottles, buttermilk, white hats and other items. Apart from the police personnel, some NGOs also came forward and offer buttermilk to the traffic personnel. The department's initiative to provide cool jackets and AC helmets has been widely welcomed by the force, with many officers expressing hope that such measures will continue and be expanded. 'These new AC helmets are a real game-changer,' said N. Ravi, a traffic police officer. 'They make the job more bearable, especially during peak temperatures. The cool jackets also help as they are light, comfortable and actually reduce the discomfort,' he added.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Pakistani national, son get permission to stay in Vizag on medical grounds
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Indian government on Tuesday granted temporary permission to a Pakistani national, and his 4-year-old son to stay in Visakhapatnam on medical grounds. The man and his elder son are Pakistani citizens, while his wife, a native of Guntur, and a practising dentist, and their younger son hold Indian citizenship. The family currently resides in a rented house in Vizag. His wife is employed in a corporate hospital. In the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the Central government had ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country. However, this family was granted an exemption after they approached Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi. The boy has been undergoing psychiatric treatment at a corporate hospital in Vizag for the past two years. 'The Pakistani nationals had applied for a long-term visa on medical grounds. We sent a detailed report to the Central government, and they approved the Pakistani nationals continued stay for treatment purpose. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has allowed them to stay in Visakhapatnam until further orders,' Bagchi said.
