As part of enhanced security arrangements for the 148th Jagannath Rathyatra, Ahmedabad City Police will deploy two live-streaming CCTV cameras with advanced facial recognition technology. These cameras are intended to monitor large crowds and instantly identify individuals with criminal records.
According to a media report, the cameras will be positioned at two key high-footfall areas: near the main gate of the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur and at Saraspur, where crowd density peaks during the procession.
These facial recognition-enabled cameras will be linked to PINAC (Program for Identification and Arrest of Criminals), Gujarat Police’s centralised criminal database, which contains detailed records of known offenders, absconders, and wanted individuals across the state.
“The system will scan every face captured by the camera lens in real time and match it against the PINAC database. If any individual with a past criminal record is detected, an immediate alert will be sent to the city’s police control room and the crime branch,” said a senior crime branch official. “The alert will contain the exact location, time, and last known movement of the suspect as picked up by the camera.”
Police personnel stationed nearby will then be instructed to either detain the suspect or place them under discreet surveillance, depending on the nature of their criminal history.
This is not the first time Gujarat Police has made use of PINAC software in high-density public events. Over the past few years, the system has been deployed during large religious festivals, political rallies, and public protests, allowing law enforcement agencies to track individuals with past records and prevent potential threats.
Officials added that PINAC’s integration with facial recognition has significantly improved operational efficiency in urban policing. “It allows us to act swiftly and pre-emptively. With real-time alerts and precise data, we are no longer dependent on manual checks or delayed verifications,” an official from the technical surveillance unit noted.
With lakhs of devotees expected to attend this year’s rathyatra, the deployment of this technology is a key element of the multi-layered security plan. More than 20,000 police personnel, anti-terrorism squads, and drone surveillance teams will be involved in ensuring safety and order.
Authorities stressed that the CCTV systems will also support crowd control and enable quick response in case of emergencies or suspicious activity.
The 148th Jagannath Rathyatra, one of Gujarat’s most prominent religious events, will take place on June 27.