City streets to come under microscope
The city streets are about to see dramatic changes in terms of security measures soon as Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is working on its most ambitious project to bring the whole city under the scrutiny of closed-circuit television cameras.
Under the Tk 61-crore project 32 large digital billboards will be installed at s ome major points of the city from which drivers and commuters will get up-to-date information on the traffic situation of nearby streets.
"We are hopeful that the whole scheme will be finished by August this year," said a top official at DMP.
The 'command control and communication system' project will provide for over 176 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to be placed at 59 city spots to monitor traffic movements and other activities in the streets.
The CCTV system involves a kind of broadcasting that can only be seen on specified receivers connected to the television camera.
The cameras will be used to make sure that traffic rules are being followed accordingly. Conducts of on-duty traffic officers will also be closely monitored. Appropriate actions will be taken if any officer is found engaged in illegal activities, sources said.
Details of haphazardly parked vehicles will also be jotted down so that nearby traffic sergeants can take actions against the driver. Officers on monitoring duties will keep a close eye on the streets to check crimes.
In case of street muggings, escape route of the culprit(s) can be easily identified through these cameras, the sources said.
"The possibilities are nearly endless," said an official from the Media and Communication Department of DMP. "Another important benefit from the use of this technology is that we can closely monitor general trends and conducts in streets."
"We would also be able to monitor the patterns of street crimes, which will give us invaluable information on how the criminals operate," he said.
This type of 'digital communication system' has produced great results in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, he added.
A Malaysian organisation named Folec Telecommunication is helping the DMP to set up and operate the technology. All the necessary equipments have already been brought to the police command control centre at the Police Headquarters on Abdul Gani Road.
DMP officials believe this technology will revolutionise the police job of regulating traffic movements. It will also help them cut street crimes by a big margin.
"City dwellers will feel more secure in streets with the introduction of this technology. They will benefit greatly from this new scheme," said a police spokesperson.
In a bid to regulate traffic movements, automatic traffic signals were installed at 76 points of the capital city. But many drivers drive cars haphazardly near these signals and deliberately flout the signals. As a solution to this problem, 8 to 10 CCTV cameras will be installed at each of these traffic points.
These cameras will be monitored by six base stations, which will have direct communication with the command control room at the Police Headquarters.
"For example, if the officers at a base station can identify the possible source of a tailback, they will inform the control centre, which will direct the nearest traffic sergeant to the source of the problem so that he can deal with it," said a DMP official.
"The command centre can direct traffic sergeants to take actions against violators of traffic laws more easily with the help of the cameras," he said.
The major spots where the cameras will be installed include Farmgate, Paltan, Jatrabari, North South Road, Matsya Bhaban, Kakrail, Malibagh, Mouchak, Bangla Motor, Gulshan-1, Gulshan-2, Science Laboratory, Banani, Mohakhali, Kakali crossing, Rangs Bhaban intersection, Asad Gate, Russell Square, Nilkhet, Shahbagh and High Court.
Under the scheme the traffic officers will use Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) communication system. This technology will allow its users to choose his receivers rather than making the message available to everyone using the same frequency.
A TETRA set can also be used as a regular cellular phone to make calls to cellphone or land phone numbers. The conversations will be instantly recorded.
Sources said that the necessary equipment have already been installed at the control centre. The only thing left to do is installing the CCTV cameras at the designated spots. Setting up of the six base centres are also in process.
The central control room will have three additional deputy commissioners, two assistant commissioners, and four sergeants to monitor the proceedings.
According to sources at DMP, a special team has already completed their training in Malaysia on operating the new equipment.
Almost one-third of the scheme has already been completed. Installing CCTV and base stations may need another five months or so.
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