The Nagpur Police Commissionerate has commissioned digital upgrade for its wireless network as the force seeks to sync in with the increased outreach post expansion of its jurisdiction to cover police stations on the city's periphery. The new digital wireless communication upgrade work is going to start soon as all the clearances from different authorities are secured, stated Dr Ashwini Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Nagpur City Police, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. As to necessity for the upgradation, she said, present network is falling short of the requirements that are growing with increase in jurisdiction of Commissionerate. Especially after inclusion of Hingna and Kamptee Police Stations (earlier with Nagpur Rural Police) in the Commissionerate, the range of wireless network needed to be expanded for effective communication with Control Room.

 

However, the present analogue network was overdue for overhaul as modern day policing needs seamless network, clear cut communication pattern among other things. The present equipment including Set/WT Repeater can work in digital mode also but the proposal for digital communication system is that police requires all the four channels used in daily communication to function in unison. Means all the 4 channels, one for officers (general), another for broadcast, one exclusively for traffic, and the fourth, used during the time of bandobast, should be capable of working in digital mode simultaneously without disturbances. Similarly, City Police has sought inter-connect capability of all the repeaters in IP multi site connect mode leveraging existing Microwave links and MPLS VPN link (backup), that would help to extend coverage throughout Nagpur Commissionerate. Also they want activation of roaming feature in walkie-talkie (WT) and SET to enable seamless movement of WT and mobile set throughout jurisdiction without needing to change the channel. As per the plan, new 10b antennas will be installed at Lakadganj, one at YCCE, the third one at Chinchbhavan and one at UOTC. Each of the site will have two units for handling the communication traffic. Similarly, a microwave link is sought from Raj Bhavan to YCCE, to Juni Kamthi, Lakadganj, Chinchbhavan and UOTC area for effective coverage of entire Commissionerate.

 

Also, city police has sought affixing 3 dB Magnetic Base Antenna to replace existing vehicles antenna so that their range covers the entire policing area. The chosen contractor is also entrusted with task of installation of repeater at mentioned sites for successful beaming of signal with full strength. Talking further, DCP Patil said the main requirement is clear cut communication in the walkie talkie sets that are also going to be upgraded post affixing of the towers and microwave towers. Network strengthening is key feature of the upgradation project so that present black spots, where signal drops that interrupts communication, are ironed out. The project is awarded on turn key basis wherein the successful bidder is tasked with supply of suitable material, erection of equipment at strategic sites and also casting foundation for micro wave towers and antennas. As to time period for execution, Dr Patil was of view that as the work involved in quite complex the completion time would require some patience. This is so laying of new cabling would be required to be undertaken to inter-connect the microwave link with other antennas and repeaters.