Kashi Battles Coronavirus in a Smart Way

Binay Singh

 

Varanasi: Kashi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is fighting against COVID-19 pandemic in a smart way using the CCTVs and geographic information system (GIS) technology accessed through its integrated command and control centre (ICCC) set up under the Smart City Mission.

(Video credit: Varanasi District Administration)

A documentary presented by the Varanasi District Administration highlights all important components used in this battle against the corona pandemic. Besides, a video created by Moonlight Pictures giving a beautiful bird’s-eye view of the millennia-old city was also released by the administration.

“The Smart City control room has been developed as a dedicated control room integrating various departments like police, health, food and civil supplies, district administration and municipal corporation to to combat the COVID-19,” said the District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma.

The Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agrawal had inaugurated the COVID-19 control room in Sigra locality of Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) area on April 1.

The existing facility of the ICCC is being utilized as the control room (1077) to combat COVID-19. The city areas are being monitored through CCTV cameras installed across the city.  Besides, the control room also keeps round the clock watch on the COVID hotspots, quarantine centres, and other essential services.

The Municipal Commissioner Gaurang Rathi said that after the outbreak of COVID-19 it was realized that an integrated approach would be needed to handle the situation effectively. “The ICCC, which is being used for municipal services, traffic management and water supply and other services, has now been turned as a ‘covid-19 war room,” said Rathi adding that the hi-tech CCTV cameras are being used to keep a strict vigil of people movement during the lockdown. Similarly, the GIS technology is being used to map each case and keep a tab on home-quarantined people.