Police in Rourkela, Odisha, have unveiled a high-tech Integrated Control Room (ICR) that combines over 220 official surveillance cameras
Police in the city of Rourkela have inaugurated a sophisticated Integrated Control Room (ICR), signalling a major push towards data-driven and community-based policing in the region.
Operating from the district police office, the ICR is designed to serve as a central hub for real-time monitoring, data analysis, and coordinated response among various police units. The system is equipped with Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to track suspicious movements and vehicles instantly.
SP Nitesh Wadhwani stated that the ICR’s predictive features are expected to help police identify potential crime hotspots, leading to quicker responses to law-and-order situations and facilitating faster investigations.
Integrating Private Cameras for ‘Collective Safety’
A key component of the new system is the integration of existing surveillance from the public. Police have mapped over 651 private road-facing cameras and successfully secured the cooperation of almost 400 camera owners who have volunteered to share their feeds with the police network via optical fibres.
“Owners of around 400 road facing cameras have volunteered to share their camera feeds to mark a new chapter in community-based policing for collective safety,” SP Wadhwani noted.
The police are actively encouraging more residents and businesses to join the ‘Pledge Your Camera’ initiative by registering their details online or via a dedicated phone line to further expand the network.
Expanding Surveillance Network
The ICR currently operates with a network of 220 official surveillance cameras, including 100 solar-powered units, installed at strategic locations across Rourkela.
The surveillance capability is set for rapid expansion. The SP confirmed that 200 more cameras will be added in the coming days. Furthermore, the Rourkela Smart City Ltd is in the process of installing around 600 additional CCTV cameras under its electronic surveillance project, expected to become functional within a couple of months.
The control room itself is multifaceted, consisting of distinct cells for CCTV monitoring, the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), smart e-beat tracking, VHF communications, and traffic management, ensuring an all-encompassing approach to city-wide security.
