Surat has taken a significant step towards modernising its city surveillance and law enforcement support systems with the inauguration of the NETRAM Police Control Room. This new-age facility brings advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and digital monitoring into the heart of Surat’s security operations, promising greater efficiency, timely response to crimes, and a boost in overall public safety. Gujarat’s Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the centre, calling it a major leap for smart policing in the state.

Surat’s New Surveillance Command

The NETRAM Police Control Room has been established at the Surat Police Commissioner’s office as a central element of the city’s upgraded surveillance network. With this, Surat joins the pioneering Indian cities employing a comprehensive system of high-definition cameras empowered by AI technology. The unit is equipped with 1,640 state-of-the-art cameras, including automatic number plate recognition and red-light violation detection cameras, distributed across the city’s critical points. High-resolution display walls in the new control room provide officers with real-time, clear visualisation of day-to-day activities, ensuring no critical incident escapes the eyes of law enforcement.

In addition to road surveillance, the NETRAM Centre allows live streaming from field officers using body-worn cameras, improving transparency and supporting ground teams during rapid action scenarios. At present, around 709 cameras are already operational, closely observing main roads, crowded localities, and sensitive public places. Developed through public participation and latest technology, the NETRAM Centre marks an upgrade from the older command room, now centralising and automating much of the CCTV data stream for quicker, more accurate responses to emergencies and evolving situations.​

AI in Criminal Detection and City Safety

The use of artificial intelligence in NETRAM fundamentally enhances the way Surat Police prevent and detect crimes. The surveillance system is integrated with a database of more than 2,200 wanted criminals, with their photographs and personal information uploaded directly to the AI-enabled cameras. If any suspect enters the camera’s range, real-time alerts are instantly sent to the command room staff, who can take action immediately. This rapid, intelligent criminal tracking mechanism has already helped the police crack more than 220 serious cases in recent years, ranging from attempted murders to chain snatching.

AI-powered cameras in NETRAM are capable of facial recognition, vehicle number plate scanning, and even detecting unusual crowd movements or suspicious behaviour. This robust suite of features allows for round-the-clock monitoring, better crowd management during festivals and events, and offers a major deterrence to criminal activity. Additionally, the centralised system gives the Commissioner’s office and field police officers a direct communication line, guaranteeing swift, coordinated action in the case of emergencies.​​

Part of a Statewide Surveillance Revolution

NETRAM’s implementation is not isolated to Surat; it is an essential component of Gujarat’s broader security initiative under the VISWAS project. This visionary programme connects district-level command centres—like Surat’s NETRAM—with ‘Trinetra’, the state’s integrated control room in Gandhinagar. With over 10,500 CCTV cameras being installed in key cities and towns, VISWAS provides a backbone for smart policing all over Gujarat.

After upcoming software upgrades, live streaming from NETRAM will be accessible to the offices of the Director General of Police and even the Chief Minister, allowing top officials to intervene or coordinate decisions directly during critical events. The state-wide network also helps object tracking, vehicle monitoring, and speedy criminal identification, making Gujarat one of the most technology-driven law enforcement regions in India today. The success of the system is visible: with interconnected cameras, body-worn units, and advanced drone integration, crimes are detected and responded to much faster than ever before.

This innovative approach has also brought Surat worldwide recognition in crime prevention, as the city now has a safety index of 66.6 in the 2025 Numbeo Crime Index and a global rank of 282nd, reflecting positive outcomes from technology-enabled policing and a steady decline in crime severity.​

Surat’s launch of the NETRAM Police Control Room stands as a model for other growing Indian cities, showing how blending human vigilance with artificial intelligence can deliver a safer, more responsive, and people-centric urban environment.​

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