In the state of Gujarat, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) faced a pressing issue: the
encroachment of government lands by the public for various unauthorized purposes. With over
258 government-owned plots, each spanning at least 500 square feet, the rampant
encroachment not only posed a threat to public safety but also led to a surge in criminal
activities and traffic congestion across the city.

The unauthorized occupation of government lands had become a widespread problem in
Vadodara, causing disruptions in urban planning and development efforts. Encroachments
ranged from the construction of illegal settlements and makeshift tents to unauthorized parking
and establishment of playgrounds. These violations not only infringed upon public property but
also exacerbated traffic congestion and heightened the risk of criminal activities in the affected
areas.

In response to this pressing issue, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation devised an innovative
solution to safeguard public lands and curb encroachments effectively. The solution involved the
installation of surveillance cameras across all government-owned plots, strategically positioned
to provide comprehensive coverage of the designated areas. These cameras were connected to
a central server via Raspberry Pi devices equipped with SIM cards for seamless network
connectivity. Additionally, each government-owned plot was geofenced, enabling real-time
monitoring and alerts within the defined boundaries.

The implementation of the surveillance solution began with the meticulous installation of
cameras across all 258 government-owned plots identified for monitoring. The Raspberry Pi
devices facilitated the seamless transmission of video feeds to the central server, where
advanced analytics algorithms were deployed to detect any instances of encroachment orunauthorized activities within the geofenced areas. Government ward officers were equipped
with mobile devices configured to receive instant alerts whenever a violation was detected,
enabling prompt intervention and enforcement actions.

The impact of Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s innovative surveillance solution was profound
and far-reaching. By effectively deterring encroachments and unauthorized activities on
government lands, the city witnessed a significant reduction in violations, thereby restoring
public trust and ensuring the proper utilization of public resources. Moreover, the
implementation of digital payment mechanisms for penalties and fines associated with
encroachments led to a substantial increase in revenue for the Indian government, while also
curbing the proliferation of black money in the system. With the city’s resources no longer
diverted to address encroachment-related issues, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation could
redirect its focus and resources towards enhancing infrastructure and urban development
initiatives, thereby fostering sustainable growth and prosperity for its residents.