The inauguration of the CCTV Surveillance System with an Integrated Command & Control Centre at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine marks a transformative step in ensuring the safety and well-being of lakhs of pilgrims who undertake the spiritual journey each year. With over 700 cameras, AI-based analytics, and real-time crowd-monitoring tools, the SMVDSB is setting a benchmark in pilgrim safety and crisis management. The necessity for such a robust and intelligent surveillance network cannot be overstated. The Bhavan area, nestled in the Trikuta hills, has historically witnessed severe overcrowding during peak pilgrimage seasons. In the past, tragic stampedes-some fatal-have occurred, largely due to uncontrolled human influx and limited space in and around the sanctum. Recognising these risks, the Shrine Board earlier introduced a skywalk to separate entry and exit paths, and now with the deployment of AI-integrated surveillance, the Board has taken another significant stride toward preventing such tragedies.
Additionally, the ever-present threat of terrorism poses a unique challenge to the shrine’s security apparatus. Given the shrine’s symbolic and spiritual value, it remains a vulnerable target for forces aiming to disrupt communal harmony. The installation of facial recognition, gesture recognition, intrusion detection systems, and automatic number plate recognition adds critical layers of defence to prevent and respond to any nefarious intent. The geographical vulnerability of the pilgrimage track-prone to landslides and weather-triggered disruptions-also makes this AI-powered infrastructure indispensable. With real-time data on crowd flow, congestion, and terrain hazards, Shrine Board authorities are now equipped to generate automated alerts, ensuring swift evacuation, route redirection, and coordination with emergency responders.
Crucially, this technology will also provide rich datasets for long-term planning-from determining seasonal crowd behaviour to identifying bottlenecks and improving infrastructure accordingly. With all high-traffic zones, chokepoints, and entry/exit areas under surveillance, predictive and preventive safety becomes a tangible reality. The initiative sends a clear message: pilgrim lives are sacred. Technological empowerment of the Shrine Board will ensure that devotion and safety walk hand in hand.
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