A state-of-the-art communications network, the first in the country, is being effectively used to police the present elections through a mass response system that is in place at all district headquarters in Hyderabad. Elaborating on the technology, Inspector-general (police computer services) S V Ramana Moorthy said that indigenising the GIS with the help of CMC has helped them simplify arrangements effectively.
This was done as part of the e-cops project. A digital map of all the habitats, including naxalite-strongholds, in the state were procured under the project, which would henceforth make policing more organised from the level of a police station to the Director General of Police’s office. The system has helped in identifying and pinpointing polling booth locations and the security needed to secure the area in case of emergency. The use of GIS has effectively brought down the response time from the local police stations and improved coordination with the headquarters.
The IG said the use of GIS technology had helped them overcome shortcomings arising out of operative definitions of constituency and police station jurisdictions for deploying personnel. The present database would help officials in Hyderabad keep track of the movement of personnel at all levels round-the-clock.
The GIS network was very rewarding during the first phase of elections and they were keen to replicate it during the second phase. “The GIS network will be a permanent feature of the state police machinery as it is delivering with precision,” the official said.
