Pune Police Roll Out ₹80-Crore High-Tech Surveillance At ARAI-Vetal Hills To Boost Safety
Pune Police Roll Out ₹80-Crore High-Tech Surveillance At ARAI-Vetal Hills To Boost Safety
Pune, July 4, 2025: In a major step towards enhancing public safety and preserving Pune’s green zones, the city police have begun installing an advanced surveillance system at ARAI-Vetal Hills. The initiative is part of a ₹80-crore comprehensive Hill Safety Project, which will see 609 high-tech CCTV cameras deployed across 22 hills in Pune.
The move follows growing concerns over security in hill areas after last year’s gang rape of a 21-year-old student at Bopdev Ghat, which exposed glaring safety gaps.
At ARAI-Vetal Hills, the system includes 47 fixed CCTV cameras, 6 PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras, 24 IP-based audio speakers, 44 smart floodlights, and emergency call boxes with panic buttons. These installations are designed not just to deter crime but also to assist the forest department in monitoring illegal encroachments, forest fires, and trespassing, officials said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Pawar said, “All cameras are equipped with night vision technology for 24×7 monitoring. The system uses AI-based alerts for faster response to incidents such as forest fires or suspicious activities.”
The project also includes 231 audio speakers for remote announcements and 160 emergency call boxes with audiovisual capabilities to alert authorities in real time during emergencies.
The Pune police are funding the entire initiative and will jointly manage it with the forest department to ensure protection of the fragile hill ecosystem. The installation at ARAI-Vetal Hills is expected to be completed within three days.
“This is not just about preventing crime. It’s also about safeguarding Pune’s natural treasures,” Pawar added. Once operational, the model will be replicated across other vulnerable hill spots in the city.
