DMP Plans Cost-Effective ‘Plug and Play’ Traffic Cameras

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is preparing to expand technology-driven traffic enforcement across the capital by introducing a new generation of lower-cost ‘plug and play’ surveillance cameras alongside its existing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered camera network.

The move reflects the force’s broader strategy to strengthen traffic monitoring while keeping implementation costs under control. According to DMP officials, the new system is expected to allow authorities to extend surveillance coverage to more areas of Dhaka, improve enforcement of traffic regulations and contribute to better road discipline.

Speaking about the initiative, DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman said the force believes the comparatively inexpensive cameras will enable a much wider deployment than the current AI-based systems. While the existing AI cameras have proven effective in monitoring traffic violations, they are significantly more expensive to install on a large scale.

He explained that the need to expand surveillance rapidly has prompted DMP to explore alternative technologies capable of delivering similar operational benefits at a lower cost. The proposed ‘plug and play’ system, he said, is intended to meet that requirement by offering a practical and scalable solution for traffic management.

According to Rahman, increasing the number of these cameras could play a significant role in improving discipline on Dhaka’s roads. He added that DMP has already begun working on integrating future technologies into its traffic management strategy, with the new camera system forming part of that long-term vision.

The initiative comes only two months after DMP began using AI-powered traffic cameras in the capital. Rahman said the early response from residents has been more encouraging than anticipated. He expressed appreciation for what he described as strong public cooperation, noting that many road users are now complying more willingly with traffic regulations, obeying traffic signals and responding positively to technology-based enforcement measures.

“The response has shown that people do not always need to be compelled to follow the law,” he said, adding that voluntary compliance has become increasingly visible since the introduction of the AI camera system.

Despite these encouraging developments, Rahman acknowledged that Dhaka’s traffic congestion remains a complex challenge driven by multiple structural factors.

He identified mixed traffic as one of the capital’s biggest obstacles. Mechanical and non-mechanical vehicles continue to share the same roads, creating conflicts that complicate traffic flow. He also pointed to the growing number of auto-rickshaws as an increasing source of congestion, arguing that effective operational control over many of these vehicles remains limited.

Another major concern, he said, is the continuous growth in the number of vehicles entering the city’s roads. Dhaka’s road network has a finite carrying capacity, yet the vehicle population continues to expand without a corresponding increase in infrastructure or transport alternatives.

Rahman also highlighted the continued operation of a substantial number of unfit vehicles across the capital. At the same time, he argued that the absence of a modern, efficient and comprehensive public transport system remains one of the city’s most significant weaknesses. Without reliable mass transit capable of serving millions of commuters, maintaining orderly traffic conditions becomes increasingly difficult.

Pedestrian behaviour, he added, presents another challenge. Although traffic signals have been introduced at several locations, many pedestrians still cross roads at undesignated points rather than waiting for the appropriate signal. Rahman noted that even when vehicles receive a green light for only around one minute and 20 seconds, some pedestrians choose not to wait, disrupting traffic flow by crossing in front of moving vehicles.

He stressed that effective traffic management is not solely the responsibility of traffic police, drivers or vehicle owners. Around the world, successful road management also depends heavily on the attitudes and behaviour of road users, particularly pedestrians. Changing those habits, he suggested, remains an ongoing challenge in Dhaka.

Drawing on years of traffic management experience, Rahman said DMP has developed a detailed understanding of congestion patterns across the city, including variations between peak and off-peak periods. Traffic personnel are deployed accordingly, with staffing levels adjusted based on location and expected traffic volume.

He revealed that around 25 locations across the capital require traffic police to remain on duty around the clock because of constant vehicle pressure. However, he acknowledged that relying solely on manual traffic management is no longer sustainable for a rapidly growing megacity.

For that reason, DMP is increasingly looking to science and technology to support conventional policing. Officials believe that expanding intelligent surveillance through both AI-powered and cost-effective ‘plug and play’ cameras could become an important step towards creating a more efficient, disciplined and technology-enabled traffic management system for Dhaka.