Delhi Police to use choppers by next year to manage traffic

Choppers will be used for round-the-year aerial surveillance in the national capital mostly to monitor and regulate traffic during peak hours, by next year, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said today.

"The proposal regarding full-time use of helicopters for aerial surveillance has been drafted and it is likely to be put into operation by next year. We have planned to take helicopters from Pawan Hans Ltd. on rental basis for the purpose," Bassi said at the annual conference of Delhi Police here.

"We did get positive results so far following the use of choppers on three occasions last year. Now aerial surveillance through helicopters is proposed to be carried for 12 months and it will mostly be used to monitor and regulate traffic in the peak hours," the police chief said.

Delhi Traffic Police had last year used helicopters for aerial surveillance on three occasions -- Durga idol immersion, Diwali eve and security during India-Africa summit. The choppers were rented from Pawan Hans and it cost the department around Rs 4.5 lakh for a single-day operation, a police source said.