Dharamshala has installed over 200 high-tech CCTV and Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) cameras across six key locations to enhance surveillance under the smart city project, officials said. The command and control centre for the system will operate from the superintendent of police’s office.

The ITMS cameras will monitor traffic flow, detect congestion, and identify violations, with trials currently underway before full implementation. The cameras cover areas within municipal limits, including the SP office, Clock Tower, Sakoh, Sheela Chowk, HRTC workshop, and Chilgari Road. Previously, the city had only one ITMS camera near the war memorial.

In total, 187 bullet cameras, 32 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, and 10 pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras have been deployed. Dharamshala and McLeodganj, a popular tourist hub, often face traffic congestion, especially during peak tourism seasons and major events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international matches at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium.

ASP Hitesh Lakhanpal stated, “This initiative aims to make Dharamshala safer for residents and visitors while ensuring smooth traffic movement. During IPL and international matches, the system will help with crowd control.”

The ITMS cameras will automatically detect violations such as speeding, helmetless riding, seat belt infractions, wrong-way driving, and traffic light violations. The data will be sent live to the control centre, generating e-challans for offenders.