Bhubaneswar: In an effort to keep tabs on interactions between the men in Khaki and commuters, especially traffic violators, the twin-city Commissionerate Police is set to equip traffic personnel with body cameras fitted on their uniforms.
In the first phase, 200-odd security men, including traffic personnel have been shortlisted to be equipped with body cameras. “Traffic personnel have been trained about the basics of the cameras. Gradually, more policemen will be facilitated with the cameras,” Commissioner of Police Y B Khurania told the media. A special programme would be organised in a day or two where the body cameras would be distributed, he added. Sources said on several occasions, both traffic personnel and commuters blame each other for one reason or the other. This initiative would go a long way in resolving such issues.
The cost of one body camera would be around `14,000. The police received an allocation of `35 lakh for the initiative. “The cameras would capture both audio and video. A fully charged camera will be able to capture photos and record videos for about four hours.
Being light in weight, it can be easily worn by the traffic constables and those collecting penalties from traffic violators. “This will be helpful in sorting out any law and order situation,” Khurania said, adding at the end of the duty hours the official concerned would upload the day’s feed to a computer at a nearby traffic station.
“Plans are afoot to introduce a major reform in the twin-city traffic management system by 2018,” he added.
PNN
