ISLAMABAD: Induction of drones will improve patrolling and traffic monitoring on motorways and national highways, said Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday.

“Use of drone technology to prevent violations of traffic rules will be effective and save the motorway police Rs20 million which it spends on patrolling highways every year,” said the minister at a ceremony held for the induction of drones, body cameras in the National Highways and Motorway Police Vehicle Tracking System.

Presentations of how the motorway police will benefit from induction of new technologies and demonstrations were part of the ceremony held near the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway toll plaza.

Fawad Chaudhry gave the example of the USA, where 43 states today relied on technology such as drones by 70 per cent to monitor their highways. Bringing in technology is particularly important to do away with the police station culture, he said.

“The induction of drones and cameras on the motorway is excellent. Motorway police revenue will increase, accidents will decrease. The drone system will facilitate congestion at the toll plazas to save time and improve quality of life, a factor we do not take into consideration,” he said, describing the induction of drones and other technologies as a forward trend in policing.

Presentations showed how use of this technology would help responding officers in multiple ways such as reaching distressed travelers with broken down vehicles, identify traffic violations up to three to four kilometres and other operational requirements. IT would also increase monitoring capabilities with 360 degree surveillance, useful during processions and law and order situations, dealing in and investigating accidents as well as assisting police in crime watch.

The participants of the ceremony were also informed about the new Public Vehicle Service Management System (PSV) that was also being introduced.

The system ensures safety of passengers in public transports as well as reduce incidents of accidents.

The minister said Lahore and Karachi motorway police needed to study motorway technology closely.

Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam said drone patrolling, body-worn cameras and PSVs management and tracking system in vehicles of the police were important parts of the five years vision.

It included equipping the police with modern technology. “The main purpose of using drone technology is to prevent violations of traffic laws on motorways and highways as well as ensure the immediate assistance of distressed people in any difficulty, toll plazas, motorways and effective monitoring of traffic flow on highways, and strict monitoring of dangerous points on motorways and national highways,” he said.

The main objectives of the vehicle tracking system are to monitor vehicles 24 hours a day through direct tracking to check the presence and speed of patrolling vehicles on the highways and control the presence of patrolling vehicles in their areas of jurisdiction, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2021