Delhi Police to Monitor Under-Construction Buildings Using Drones and AI
The Delhi Police has initiated a new system for monitoring under-construction buildings by deploying drones and using artificial intelligence (AI) to assess structural conditions and detect irregularities. The move comes in response to recent building collapses and aims to strengthen surveillance and ensure safety at construction sites across the city.
The police will use drones to capture aerial footage of construction activities. This footage will then be analysed by AI-based systems to create digital structural models. These models are expected to help identify construction beyond permissible limits and detect early signs of structural weaknesses.
Officials believe that this method will enhance their ability to respond quickly in emergencies and provide a clearer understanding of areas at risk. In addition to identifying potential hazards, the data generated will be shared with civic agencies to support enforcement actions and improve coordination during rescue efforts, if needed.
The decision to implement this initiative was influenced by recent incidents, including the collapse of a 20-year-old four-storey building that killed 11 people and injured 11 others. The collapse was reportedly caused by the removal of a supporting pillar between two shops on the ground floor, which compromised the structural stability of the building. Residents had reportedly felt tremors the previous evening, but the warning signs went unaddressed.
In another case earlier this month, a 67-year-old man died and another person was seriously injured when construction material fell from the roof of a five-storey building during a dust storm in the Chander Vihar area. The building was reportedly being extended vertically, and materials fell onto a public road, causing fatal injuries. A video of the incident had circulated widely on social media, drawing attention to the risks posed by unregulated construction.
The AI-generated data is expected to be useful not only for the police but also for municipal authorities, disaster management teams, and other government departments. Police officials have indicated that district-level teams will be tasked with maintaining up-to-date records of construction activities in their respective areas to aid in better monitoring and enforcement.
The new system marks a significant shift toward technology-driven regulation in the urban development space. It is aimed at reducing incidents of structural failure and ensuring safer construction practices through timely intervention and accurate assessment.
This initiative is expected to be gradually rolled out across all districts of Delhi, with a focus on densely populated and high-risk areas.
