The Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) is set to introduce sophisticated cameras and gadgets to upgrade the force when it comes to keeping a vigil on traffic violations in the town. The police believe that the systems would also help them keep crimes at bay. The work on the installation of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras began today, while one has already been installed.

Another one will be installed after a few days, while police said more will be commissioned within a month. Police also said that sophisticated ‘Pan-tilt zoom’ cameras would be installed at important areas of the town. “We are going to introduce sophisticated gadgets and cameras to keep a close watch on vehicles. We will install ANPR cameras at important locations, and they can scan the number plates.

It will help detect vehicles later if they violate traffic rules, and accordingly, chalans would be sent to the offenders,” deputy commissioner of police, traffic, SMP, Sunil Yadav, said. “This apart, other cameras, including those that can take five megapixels of photo, night vision cameras, ‘Pan-tilt zoom’ facilities would be set up at various locations in the town.

The cameras would be installed in a phased manner,” he said. Police officials said the several cameras will also be helpful in identifying criminals of they try to flee after committing crimes. While police sources said around 93 CCTV cameras had been installed at important thoroughfares in the town, the West Bengal Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation is funding the project.

“Earlier, we had one speed laser gun to monitor the speed of the vehicles. Now we have six more laser guns. We have installed them on selected roads which are accidentprone like areas near the Bagdogra Airport, Kestapur, Naxalbari, Sukna, Salugara, the connecting road to the Bengal Safari Park, Burdwan Road, and Ambari Canal roads. Following the installation of the devices, we are getting 15-20 cases of high speeding daily,” Mr Yadav said. Altogether, 110 cameras would be installed at various points in Siliguri. The process of setting up an integrated control room is also underway, it is learnt.

According to Mr Yadav, police are using breath analysers under six traffic guards to check drink driving. Mr Yadav said police were also stopping vehicles at ‘naka checks’ and offering tea or water to drivers, so that they get refreshed do not doze off while driving. “With all these measures in place now, the number of accident deaths has gone down. A total of 16 persons died in road accidents in the town in 2016, while the number came down to six last year,” Mr Yadav said.