Vizag police leverage tech to manage crowd

Visakhapatnam: The International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam city were marked by high-tech surveillance and effective traffic management, thanks to a comprehensive network of over 3,000 high-definition CCTV cameras, including 1,200 cameras along the beach road stretch. Drones and thousands of security personnel were also deployed at various locations to ensure seamless execution of the event.

Despite initial traffic disruptions on June 18, particularly on the stretch from Maddilapalem to Yendada, the police learned from their experience and effectively managed traffic on June 19, 20, and 21. Police personnel were deployed at every key junction and parking point in the city to regulate traffic, and the ASTraM app was introduced to enhance traffic management.

The app provided holistic insights into the road traffic scenario, enabling the police to take spontaneous decisions for effective traffic management during the yoga event. As a result, despite a large turnout of vehicles, the police were able to ease traffic congestion and facilitate the smooth movement.

On the day of the event, vehicles moved at a slow pace in some stretches of the city in the early hours, but the police managed traffic flow, allowing most participants to reach the yoga event on time.