Bihar Police Takes to the Skies with First Dedicated Drone Unit
In a significant move towards modern policing, the Bihar Police has announced the creation of the state's first dedicated drone unit. This initiative aims to revolutionize law enforcement operations across Bihar.
Major Boost for Traffic Management and Surveillance
The police headquarters in Patna revealed plans to procure fifty drones for this ambitious project. According to ADG (Modernisation) Sudhanshu Kumar, forty drones will be distributed to all forty police districts in Bihar. These drones will strengthen district-level monitoring capabilities.
The remaining ten drones will be assigned to the Special Task Force for specialized and high-risk operations. Kumar emphasized that the most visible impact of this technology will be on road safety and traffic management.
"Through drones, we can now identify traffic violators from the air," Kumar stated. He listed common offenses like driving without helmets, wrong-lane driving, and signal jumping. The police will issue direct challans to vehicle owners based on footage captured by drone cameras.
This approach is expected to reduce traffic jams and road accidents significantly. The aerial perspective allows for comprehensive monitoring of traffic flow and violations.
Enhancing Crowd Control and Event Security
Crowd management during major events, festivals, and political rallies has always posed challenges for the police. The new drone unit will change that dynamic.
With live monitoring of sensitive areas, the police headquarters will receive real-time feeds from above. This capability enables immediate decisions about where to deploy additional forces. Potential incidents can be prevented before they escalate.
Kumar explained, "Based on real-time information from height, we can quickly determine where extra personnel are needed." This proactive strategy marks a shift from reactive policing to preventive measures.
Tackling Crime in Difficult Terrain
The Special Task Force will utilize drones in Bihar's geographically challenging regions. These include diara areas and hilly terrains where police access is often limited.
Criminals have traditionally exploited these limitations. Now, drone technology will allow close surveillance of criminal hideouts and activities. "A close watch can be kept on criminals' hideouts," Kumar noted. This surveillance will make it easier to target organized crime networks effectively.
Funding and Implementation Timeline
A high-powered meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs took place on January 14 to discuss this initiative. The Bihar Police has submitted a proposal worth Rs 24.5 crore for drone procurement.
A formal approval letter from the central government is expected soon. The police headquarters is preparing for swift implementation once clearance arrives.
Kumar confirmed that procurement of all fifty drones and training of personnel will be completed by March. "By the end of March, these drones will patrol the skies over Bihar's roads and sensitive areas," he added. This deployment represents the new face of modern policing in the state.
The drone unit symbolizes Bihar Police's commitment to adopting advanced technology. It promises enhanced public safety, better traffic management, and more efficient crime prevention across the state.
