The security measures for visitors attending the ‘pran prathishtha’ ceremony at Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 have reached unprecedented levels. Undoubtedly, UP Police is relying heavily on AI to ensure smooth operations.

The police have deployed over 10,000 CCTV cameras, many of which are AI-powered. “To ensure better security arrangements at the programme venue in Ayodhya, technology is being used on a large scale. In some of these CCTV cameras, we are using AI-based technology so that we can maintain a strict vigil on the commuters,” the director general for law and order, Prashant Kumar told PTI.

These cameras have been installed in hotspots such as Kanak Bhawan, Hanuman Garhi, Shri Nageshwar Nath Mandir, Ram Ki Paidi and Ram Janmabhoomi.

In addition to the millions of devotees thronging Ayodhya, approximately 506 prominent individuals, including politicians, industrialists, film stars, sportspersons, diplomats, judges, and esteemed priests, are all attending the event.

Further elevating its significance on the global stage, the consecration ceremony will host 92 specially invited dignitaries representing 50 countries as state guests.

As a security measure, reports suggest over 15,000 police personnel, along with paramilitary forces, ATS commandos and sniper teams, have been deployed across the city.

Facial recognition tech

UP Police will use the CCTV cameras along with an AI-powered audio-video analytics platform to monitor the event for threats and suspicious activities. The platform, called Jarvis, is developed by a Gurgaon-based startup called Staqu Technologies.

JARVIS leverages AI and computer vision to analyse video footage and extract valuable insights like detecting and tracking objects, recognising faces, identifying anomalies, and performing various other video analytics tasks. It provides short and crisp real-time alerts based on the analysed video data. In Ayodhya, it will scan the cities and premises for threats and relay real-time alerts to the authorities.

The platform has been fed with a comprehensive digital database of 8,00,000 criminals in UP. The CCTV cameras will utilise advanced high-resolution facial recognition capabilities, enabling the identification and monitoring of suspects across various locations with an impressive accuracy rate of up to 99.7%, according to the startup.

The AI system will recognise and promptly alert the authorities in the event that someone from the database or any other high-risk individuals is detected in the camera feed. Additionally, these cameras are equipped with reverse facial recognition functionality, which means it can identify a person by scanning a photo of that particular person.

AI-powered number plate recognition

The cameras will also monitor the vehicles entering and exiting the city during the event. UP Police will use an advanced AI-powered Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system for traffic management, law enforcement, and public safety.

In Ayodhya, ANPR will be specifically used by UP Police to assist in the identification of vehicles involved in criminal activities or traffic violations. Authorities can integrate ANPR with databases of wanted vehicles to identify and apprehend them automatically.

The AI system will have real-time access to the government’s vehicle registration database, which includes information from stolen vehicle databases. While only authorised vehicles are permitted to enter Ayodhya, the system can immediately detect unauthorised vehicles. Moreover, the system can also identify vehicles sporting fake number plates.

Attribute-based searches

The UP Police will harness Staqu’s JARVIS platform to enable surveillance cameras to conduct attribute-based searches. The AI-powered system can identify individuals within a crowd based on distinctive attributes like clothing, colour, accessories, or the presence of accompanying children.

Real-time monitoring using attribute-based AI searches can help manage large crowds and ensure public safety. It will help UP Police not only locate criminals but also find lost people or children in a crowd.

AI-powered anti-mine drones

Authorities are also using AI-powered drones to keep an eye on the movement of people visiting the holy place. Equipped with sensors and detection technology, these AI-driven drones are designed to scan the ground for concealed landmines or explosive devices.

“Ayodhya is now under the watchful eye of drones equipped with AI alongside the utilisation of anti-mine drones, as part of the concerted efforts to enhance security in the temple town,” a senior police official said.