TTD Plans ANPR System To Monitor Vehicles On Tirumala
The proposed ANPR system is expected to fill the gap by enabling automatic capture and logging of number plates using high-resolution cameras to be positioned along the ghat roads: Reports
TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is considering introduction of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system on Tirumala ghat roads as part of its efforts to enhance surveillance and safety on the twin routes leading to one of India’s busiest pilgrimage centres.
The move comes amid growing concerns over absence of real-time monitoring of vehicles traveling to Tirumala. On normal days, up to 8,000 vehicles travel over the roads. The number crosses 10,000 on weekends and special occasions.
Although entry of vehicles is recorded at the Alipiri Checkpoint in Tirupati and the Garudadri Nagar Cottage (GNC) toll gate in Tirumala, officials say there is currently no mechanism to track vehicles once they pass these points.
The proposed ANPR system is expected to fill the gap by enabling automatic capture and logging of number plates using high-resolution cameras to be positioned along the ghat roads.
“We are focusing on improving surveillance not just in Tirumala but also along the approach roads. ANPR will allow us to track any vehicle precisely in case of security issues or emergencies,” a senior TTD official told Deccan Chronicle. “The system will record when and where a vehicle passed a camera. We can retrieve that information instantly by entering the number plate.”
While Tirumala is already equipped with over 2,700 CCTV cameras within the hill town, none are installed along the forested ghat sections. To address this, TTD plans to install solar-powered cameras at key points along the uphill and downhill routes. These cameras will be integrated with the ANPR system to automatically log vehicle movement.
ANPR technology, already in use across various smart cities in India, can capture vehicle number plates in real-time, even in low light or adverse weather conditions. It is widely used for traffic management, law enforcement, and identifying vehicles with expired registrations or pending violations.
The devasthanam is learnt to have approached infrastructure firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which operates ANPR systems in several cities, to submit a detailed proposal for taking up the project.
Likewise, the TTD is planning to introduce a No Helmet Detection System for two-wheelers. Despite helmets being compulsory, many pilgrims and locals reportedly remove their helmets after passing the toll gates. The proposed system will deploy AI-powered cameras to identify riders without helmets and automatically issue challans.
Devasthanam officials say these technological upgrades are aimed at strengthening safety and discipline along the sensitive hill routes, where sharp curves, heavy traffic and forested terrain necessitate constant vigilance.