CCTV cameras to help Hyderabad cops identify people without masks

Hyderabad: For the first time in India, the Telangana police will use CCTV cameras to identify people roaming the streets of Hyderabad without masks. With the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques, CCTV cameras across the city will identify those who step out without masks amid the COVID-19 lockdown, said Telangana DGP M. Mahender Reddy.

The DGP shared images taken by AI-enabled CCTV cameras of people with masks and without masks. He tweeted, “#AI based #FaceMaskViolationEnforcement is being rolled out by TS police. Leveraging ComputerVision & #DeepLearningTechnique being implemented on surveillance CCTVs across the cities is #FirstOfItsKind in INDIA. Shall be enabled shortly across the 3Commissionerates *Hyd,Cyb&Rck. (sic)”

The police had tested the CCTV cameras at Vinayak Nagar Junction in Hyderabad. The new technique will be implemented in all the three commisionerates of Hyderabad, Rachakonda, and Cyberabad.

Fines collected for not wearing masks

On 10 April, the state government had introduced the "mask on" policy making it compulsory for people to wear masks when they step outdoors during the lockdown to buy essentials. The state had also said that people not wearing masks will be fined Rs. 500.

After the state government reopened all liquor shops in Telangana on 5 May, shop owners had been instructed not to sell alcohol to people who come to the stores without masks. On 8 May, a wine shop in Rajanna-Sircilla district was fined Rs. 5,000 after it sold liquor to customers who were not wearing masks.

Earlier this month, Kamareddy district had fined 387 people for not wearing masks and has so far collected Rs. 53,350 in fines.