Dimapur Eyes Safer Roads

Amid rising crime rates, including road accidents, hit-and-run cases, traffic congestion and other violations, Dimapur Police is leveraging technology to revolutionise traffic management, improve road safety and track traffic violators. Last week, more than a dozen cameras—Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)—equipped with high-resolution colour night vision technology were installed at strategic locations in and around Dimapur. This initiative, funded by the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), may not be groundbreaking, but it is a significant one given the limited number of such devices in the state’s commercial hub. These specialised video surveillance systems will help the law enforcing agencies in various ways, including capturing licence plates of fast-moving vehicles in real-time, identifying vehicles, recording traffic movement, and detecting violations such as speeding, driving in the wrong lanes, and jumping red lights. Such surveillance devices have become indispensable tools for providing real-time alerts to the police regarding traffic violations, tracking stolen vehicles, aiding crime detection, assisting accident investigations, and several other purposes. This has been evidenced by the city police’s increasing reliance on CCTV footage to track criminals involved in robbery, theft and other offences, highlighting the need to install more such devices. Moreover, real-time monitoring and speedy tracking down of offenders also serve as a deterrence for traffic violations and help prevent crime.

Another significant initiative is the establishment of a centralised command centre (CCC), which will serve as the nerve centre for the Dimapur police. This centre will integrate the city's surveillance systems and consolidate communication, thereby enhancing policing and access to information. Integration of various police units will bridge communication gaps and avoid fragmented responses to emergencies, be it robberies, accidents, or natural disasters. It will also strengthen transparency and accountability within the law enforcement agencies, as details like incoming calls and responses are recorded at these centres. Traffic personnel can now monitor city-wide conditions from the control room, enabling them to manage congestion more efficiently and respond to emergencies promptly. This will benefit traffic police, who often struggle with poor work-life balance and fatigue caused by long hours in harsh weather, exacerbated by manpower shortages amid increasing traffic jams. However, infrastructure and technology can be ineffective without the cooperation of the general public and proper management by skilled personnel. The public shouldn’t damage the installed equipment.