Bhopal Project Safeguard: 8,000 AI-enabled CCTV Cameras To Be Installed In City

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a major step towards strengthening surveillance and public safety, around 8,000 hi-tech AI-based CCTV cameras will be installed across Bhopal under Project Safeguard. The initiative aims to enhance policing by ensuring real-time monitoring and rapid response to incidents across the city.

At present, nearly 700 CCTV cameras are operational in Bhopal and are monitored from a central control room. The upcoming AI-enabled cameras will significantly upgrade the existing system with advanced features such as face recognition technology and will enable police to keep an eye on every corner of the city.

Police officials said that a key highlight of the project is the integration of these cameras with Dial-112 emergency services. The AI-powered system will automatically detect and alert authorities about road accidents, fire incidents, criminal activities, traffic movement or any untoward situation. Even if no emergency call is made, alerts will be instantly transmitted to nearby police response vehicles (FRVs), enabling immediate action at the scene.

Dial-112 DIG Riyaz Iqbal said that the installation of these cameras will be completed across the state ahead of the Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain, where the technology will also be deployed for crowd management and security.

Quick identification of criminals, missing persons

The AI cameras will be capable of identifying wanted or absconding criminals within 30 seconds of capturing their images, while immediately notifying the police. In addition, the system will help trace missing persons by recognising them and alerting the concerned police stations.

Special attention will also be given to sensitive areas such as women s and girls colleges, where the cameras will monitor and flag any suspicious or unwanted gatherings, prompting swift police intervention.

Private cameras to be integrated

The plan also aims to install 1 lakh CCTV cameras and integrate an additional 1 lakh private cameras with the Dial-112 network. Commercial establishments, banks and even private property owners can opt into the system by paying a monthly fee of Rs 2,000. Once integrated, any incident such as theft or suspicious activity captured by these private cameras will automatically alert the police, ensuring faster response and improved security.

Access for local police stations

Officials also said that local police stations will be given direct access to AI-based CCTV feeds within their respective jurisdictions. This will enable them to receive instant alerts and respond promptly to any incidents.

Key features

* Integration with Dial-112 for faster emergency response

* Alerts to be sent directly to nearby police response vehicles

* Face recognition to identify criminals within 30 seconds

* System to help trace missing persons instantly

* Special surveillance at women s and girls colleges