Cyberabad cops first in S. Asia to get GPS radio

The Cyberabad police is set to become the first force in south and southeast Asia to get a GPS-based Tetra radio system.

The police is using an analogue radio network that jams when an excessive number of users use it. In Tetra, or Terrestrial Trunk Radio System, the channels are multi-pronged. The police frequency cannot be intercepted by terror elements.

The police can create different groups for law and order, crime and traffic. Closed groups can be created to hold conversations that cannot be heard by those outside the loop. The police can talk and listen at the same time like in cellphones.

"Tetra is like GSM. With hand-held compact radio sets, voice calls can be made and SMSes can be sent," said Mr Vinay Ranjan Ray, director of police communications.

The police entered into an agreement with European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), a multi-country consortia, last month for procuring the system. "The system would become operational by March end. It will help the control room know the location and movement of personnel carrying the handsets," Mr Ray said.

New city airport to have cabs with GPS

The government has ordered transport department to introduce cabs with global positioning system to prevent drivers from cheating travellers entering the city via the Shamshabad airport that is scheduled to be operational by March next year.

"The radio cabs with GPS will enable passengers to know where they exactly are," said joint transport commissioner C.L.N. Gandhi.

The drivers will not be able to take passengers on roundabout routes. "We studied the cool cab system in Mumbai," Mr Gandhi said.

The government framed tough guidelines for cab licences in view of the safety of passengers. Each operator has to maintain at least 100 cabs fitted with electronic fare meters.
The driver should be fluent in English apart from local languages.