Dhaka Police Chief Backs AI for Traffic Management
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DHAKA – The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has initiated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance traffic management across the capital, integrating it with existing CCTV cameras at various traffic points. DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed announced the deployment Wednesday during his first “Meet the Press” event since assuming office, held at the DMP Media Center in Minto Road.
The new system is a proprietary DMP initiative, developed to address Dhaka’s unique traffic challenges, including its substantial population, high vehicle density, and complex urban infrastructure. Key intersections will be prioritized for the rollout of this AI-driven approach.
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Journalists present at the briefing raised concerns regarding inter-agency coordination, highlighting that effective traffic management extends beyond the DMP and requires collaborative efforts with entities like the City Corporation and WASA. Questions were posed about the potential for the AI initiative to fail without such integrated work.
Commissioner Ahmed affirmed that coordination with relevant agencies is ongoing where necessary, describing current cooperation as positive. He acknowledged past shortcomings in inter-agency coordination but emphasized that regular meetings on traffic management now include all pertinent organizations under the current government.
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Another significant challenge discussed was the proliferation of battery-operated rickshaws, many of which lack registration numbers or legal authorization. A journalist questioned how AI technology, designed to identify number plates for enforcement against legal vehicles, would address violations by unregistered rickshaws.
Commissioner Ahmed noted that Dhaka’s scale of population and vehicle pressure makes comparisons with other cities difficult. He explained that the current situation with battery-operated rickshaws is a result of long-term, gradual expansion, exacerbated by the emergence of a large syndicate during previous administrations, leading to a massive increase in their numbers over the past 15 years.
Despite the complexities, police are conducting regular operations against battery-operated rickshaws. From January to April of this year, authorities took 174,648 enforcement actions, including seizing 341 batteries, impounding 3,518 vehicles, and disconnecting battery connections in various instances. Ahmed stressed that the police alone cannot resolve the issue, underscoring the necessity for coordinated efforts involving the police, City Corporations, and other government agencies.
The DMP Commissioner affirmed that police operations against battery-operated rickshaws will continue, with a phased approach aimed at gradually reducing their numbers through sustained enforcement. DMP sources indicate that the AI technology is intended to boost decision-making capabilities by rapidly analyzing traffic flow, signal management, and congestion levels.
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