Mask violators to be tracked with AI

Cops to make use of CCTVs to generate challans and send message on cellphones

In a first-of-its-kind in the country, the Telangana police are taking the help of Artificial intelligence(AI) to crack the whip on those violating Covid-mask rule.

With the surge in Covid19 cases in the state, remote policing has gained importance. Around

50 per cent of the mask violation cases were booked using the AI based CCTV cameras in a campaign styled as contactless enforcement, police said

A few days ago, the state issued a GO, making it mandatory for all to wear C-mask in public places and imposed a penalty of

`1,000 against violations. As per data from the Telangana state police,

27,391 such cases were booked. These included

13,485 cases registered via contact enforcement while 13,905 cases were booked through contactless enforcement using CCTV cameras. This formed 50.7 per cent of the overall cases.

Most of the cases were booked under Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates.

The police are identifying violators via the CCTV screens installed at various junctions. “An Artificial intelligence software connected to the CCTV cameras identifies the violators via registering their vehicle number. Like in Traffic E-challan, a challan will be generated and a message sent to their mobile number,” said an official.

“Using machine-learning, CCTV cameras are trained to identify the vehicle, person and the mask. Initially, lakhs of images were used to train the camera. In the initial level of scrutiny, CCTV cameras identified vehicle, person and mask. If any violation is noticed, it will direct such images to the central command. In the second level scrutiny done manually, the police will check these images and generate challans for violations.”

So far, the Cyberabad police have booked 1,500 cases against mask violators. The Rachakonda police have booked 837 such cases on Tuesday. Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat urged the public to wear masks in public places or face the fine.

MOST OF the cases were booked under Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates.

THE CYBERABAD police have booked 1,500 cases against mask violators.