Imagine hearing a distant hum above your neighborhood—not from a helicopter or airplane, but from a drone, silently gliding across the sky. It isn’t a toy or some hobbyist’s gadget. It’s the Gujarat Police, stepping into the future of crime prevention and public safety. Welcome to GP-DRASTI — Gujarat Police's Drone Response and Aerial Surveillance Tactical Interventions program.
Let’s explore how Gujarat is rewriting the rules of urban policing with flying technology that feels like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie.
What is GP-DRASTI and Why Now?
Gujarat’s major cities—Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara—have faced a surge in violent street crimes. From stabbings and mob violence to gang rivalries, traditional policing methods often struggle to keep pace, especially when incidents unfold in real time. That’s where drones step in.
Launched in April 2025, GP-DRASTI is not just about flying cameras. It’s a high-tech surveillance initiative designed to reduce police response time, provide aerial visibility, and strengthen on-ground policing through real-time insights. Drones now act as a force multiplier—meaning they give existing police teams supercharged capabilities without increasing manpower.
Quick Reaction Meets Smarter Action
Let’s break this down. When a distress call hits the control room—say, about a street brawl or mob activity—two things now happen instantly:
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The local police are dispatched.
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A drone is launched from the nearest drone base station.
No delays. No waiting for someone to physically reach the scene. The drone can cover ground faster, reach hotspots before any team, and stream live footage to command centers. This gives decision-makers a clear visual of what’s happening—whether it’s escalating or not—and lets them coordinate accordingly.
It’s like having a live security feed, but airborne, mobile, and with a 360-degree view of unfolding chaos.
A Closer Look at How It Works
What makes this even more impressive is the tech integration behind it. The drones are pre-programmed with a landmark-based navigation system. This means when an incident is reported, the drone flies toward the closest known location and can then be manually guided to the exact crime spot. All this happens while streaming crisp, live footage directly to the police control rooms.
Think about it—before boots even hit the ground, the police already have eyes on the scene. Is it a petty scuffle? Or something more dangerous involving weapons? Drones help officers make those crucial judgment calls within seconds.
The First Phase: Targeting Crime Hotspots
In the initial phase, the GP-DRASTI program has deployed drones across 33 police stations in four cities:
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12 in Ahmedabad
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9 in Surat
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7 in Vadodara
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5 in Rajkot
These aren’t random picks. Each station was identified based on a rising pattern of "body-related" crimes—cases involving physical violence, riots, unlawful gatherings, and weapon use. This data came from another internal initiative called SHASTRA (Sharir Sambandhi Tras Rokva Abhiyan), launched in February 2025 to zero in on areas with frequent violent incidents.
With this strategic deployment, drones now hover over areas where they’re most needed.
Drones in Action: Real Stories, Real Impact
Though still in its early days, the impact of GP-DRASTI has already been visible. In a recent test scenario, drones arrived at a reported crime scene in less than half the time it took ground teams to reach. That’s a massive difference when every second counts.
Imagine a situation where a group of miscreants is vandalizing vehicles on a crowded street. With live drone footage, police can instantly decide whether backup is needed, where to block roads, and how to approach the scene. It transforms the way incidents are handled, reducing guesswork and improving the safety of both citizens and officers.
The Bigger Picture: Beyond Just Policing
GP-DRASTI isn’t just a local experiment—it’s part of a larger, smarter shift in urban security. Across India, we’ve seen drones being used to monitor protests, track fugitives, and even locate missing persons. Gujarat is now taking it a step further by integrating drones directly into everyday police work.
The move is also strategic—India’s law enforcement agencies often face resource constraints. Drones help bridge that gap. Instead of needing more personnel to monitor streets, a single drone and an operator can cover wide areas, collect evidence, and serve as a deterrent.
It’s cost-effective, scalable, and offers data-driven policing.
Who’s Behind the Tech?
The Gujarat Police have partnered with tech firm Asteria Aerospace, which has already supplied drones for the first phase. Eighteen more drones are expected to be added soon, further strengthening the program’s reach.
It’s not just about hardware, though. The real power lies in the software that controls drone paths, integrates them with control room alerts, and ensures seamless coordination with ground patrol units.
This marriage of hardware and intelligent systems is what sets GP-DRASTI apart.
Challenges Ahead: Tech Isn’t a Silver Bullet
Of course, no system is without its challenges. Drones can’t solve every crime or replace human judgment. They require skilled operators, need clear flight paths, and raise valid concerns about surveillance and privacy. There’s also the question of weather conditions and tech failures—what happens if a drone malfunctions during a mission?
That said, Gujarat Police seems aware of these concerns and is reportedly working on protocols to regulate usage, secure data, and train staff properly. As the program matures, these challenges will be worth watching.
Final Thoughts
The launch of GP-DRASTI is more than just a technological upgrade. It marks a cultural shift in how we think about policing. It’s responsive, smart, and proactive rather than reactive. It offers the kind of visibility that was unthinkable a few years ago.
For the people of Gujarat, especially those in high-crime areas, it could mean better safety and faster justice. And for law enforcement across India, it sets a precedent: tech-driven policing is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.
