Cops' protests drowned out as drones fly free in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Karnataka's police intelligence has raised an alarm over unregulated flying of drones in Bengaluru. People are seen to be freely letting their drones fly high for television or movie shoots, or during marriages and other events.

Drones are now easily available on ecommerce sites for Rs 4,000-6,000. The price goes up for drones with more features. During public functions, drones have replaced cranes as they are cost-effective, labour-effective and can reach higher.

Sample this: A drone was seen flying above Vidhana Soudha and the High Court -both high-security installations -during a programme organised by the Karnataka Bar Council Bar Council recently.

At Palace Grounds, a drone was seen flying to capture the 50th birthday bash of Kar nataka Rakshana Vedike president Narayana Gowda.Acclaimed Kannada movie U-Turn had a zooming-out frame of the Richmond Road flyover shot through a drone.

Police Commissioner N S Megharikh's citywide ban on drones was confined to days before and after the Republic Day. No one remembers the ban now. "It is disastrous that we don't have rules or guidelines on drones," Additional DGP (Intelligence) Ashit Mohan Prasad said. "A drone can carry an improvised explosive device and drop it anywhere in the city. It is a major threat that needs to be taken seriously," Prasad said, pointing out that a drone was found when Indian Mujahideen affiliate Syed Ismail Afaq was arrested in Bhatkal last year.

Prasad said the police department has cautioned the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the liberal use of drones in the city's central business district. The police department has refrained from coming out with its own set of rules governing the use of drones as the DGCA is coming up with a policy on unmanned aerial systems. "If they delay the process, then we will frame our own rules," Prasad said.

A senior DGCA officer told ET that they are in the process of framing the rules to regulate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. It will, however, take some more time for these rules to take effect, he added.

Sensing danger, the Mumbai police banned all types of drones in its jurisdiction last year.

The DGCA had issued a blanket ban on commercial establishments and individuals flying drones. In April, the regulator issued draft guidelines on operations of civil unmanned aircraft systems, which requires all civil operations at or above 200 ft above ground level in uncontrolled airspace to obtain permits.The draft will be finalised after receiving feedback from the public.