Rawalpindi is using drones, cameras and e-challans to monitor traffic in high-risk areas and crack down on dangerous violations like underage driving and helmetless riding.
New Tech Frontline for Safer Roads in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi authorities have launched a new traffic enforcement drive built around drones, high-definition cameras and an integrated e-challan system. The campaign, which starts in the city’s busiest and most congested zones, aims to reduce accidents and change the behaviour of drivers and motorcyclists who ignore basic safety rules.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Farhan Aslam said the move is part of a broader push to use modern technology instead of relying only on manual policing. “We are now acting against violators through real-time drone surveillance,” he explained, adding that the goal is to strengthen enforcement where traditional patrols have struggled to keep pace with rising traffic volumes.
Drones and E-Challans Linked to Safe City System
Under the new system, drones equipped with cameras will patrol key corridors and high-risk intersections. They will capture live footage of violations such as underage driving, wrong-way movement and riders without helmets. The drone feeds are linked to the Safe City Command and Control Centre, where staff can flag offences and alert field teams.
The e-challan system, officially launched on 22 November, is now fully connected to this Safe City infrastructure. Instead of relying only on on-the-spot fines, traffic police can issue electronic tickets based on verified video evidence. In the first four days alone, around 600 e-challans were issued for various offences, signalling that enforcement is already active.
City-Wide Camera Network Tracks Flow and Violations
Alongside drones, Rawalpindi has expanded its fixed camera network to give a wider and more consistent view of traffic conditions. More than 2,000 cameras have been installed at 359 locations across the city, covering markets, intersections, main roads and public spaces.
An additional 15 cameras have been placed at entry and exit points to monitor vehicles coming into and leaving the city. The feeds are used to catch violations, observe traffic flow and support quick responses when accidents or roadblocks occur.
Crackdown on High-Risk Traffic Violations
CTO Farhan Aslam has stressed that enforcement is initially focused on violations that pose the greatest threat to human life. These include riding motorcycles without helmets, driving cars without wearing seatbelts, using mobile phones while driving and ignoring one-way rules.
Underage driving is another key concern. Authorities say young, unlicensed riders and drivers are often involved in serious crashes because they lack training and tend to take more risks. Drones and cameras will be used to document such cases and build pressure on families to comply with licensing laws.
What the New System Means for Drivers and Residents
For ordinary road users, the message from Rawalpindi’s authorities is clear: the chances of being caught on camera are now much higher, and fines will increasingly be based on recorded evidence rather than random checks. Drivers can expect more consistent enforcement of rules that have often been ignored in the past.
At the same time, officials say the system is designed to support law-abiding citizens by making roads safer and journeys more predictable. Better monitoring can reduce sudden bottlenecks caused by illegal parking, wrong turns and risky lane changes.
If the drone and e-challan initiative succeeds, it could become a model for other major cities in Punjab. For now, Rawalpindi will serve as a test case for how far technology can go in changing driving culture and reducing the human and economic costs of traffic accidents.
