Police get high-tech surveillance vehicle

The van was procured as a part of the police modernisation program

Ahead of the ninth anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, the Mumbai police obtained a ‘mobile surveillance control and command centre’ vehicle. The van — touted as a ‘moving control room’ — will be used to capture footage in hostile situations. It will relay the live feed to the main control room at police headquarters.

The new surveillance vehicle. (HT Photo)

The van was procured as a part of the police modernisation program, under which, 6,000 CCTV cameras were set up recently. The van is fitted with a large LED screen, five cameras on the roof — one of which can rotate 360 degrees — and a dish to establish wireless communication with the control room.

It has four cushion seats and all the amenities that are available in the main control room, said senior police officials.

“This is a smaller version of the police control room. It will be able to tap into feeds from the network of CCTV cameras. It will be of great help to the force,” said Mumbai police commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar, after inaugurating the van.

The vehicle has a generator, which will enable it to function on the field.

Earlier, the police had acquired a high-tech mobile X-ray and explosives scanner. These have remained non-functional for years, owing to a lack of maintenance.