TATR to geo tag vehicles for tourists

Lokmat News Network

In an attempt to check vehicular movement during jungle safari, the management of world famous Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district will be starting geo tagging of tourist vehicles.

Confirming this to Lokmat Times on Monday, the field director of TATR Jitendra Ramgaonkar said, “There have been incidents of over speeding and crowding by tourist vehicles during safari in the past. In an attempt to curb this menace, a project will be launched monitor vehicular traffic through geo tagging. GPS enabled cellphones were given to Gypsies from Moharli and Kolara entry gates on Sunday. An app called ‘Bagheera’ is being used for this purpose. Already, this system is being used in Pench Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.”

Meanwhile, sources informed that during after safari, the analysis of data gathered from GPS enables cellphones showed that major violations were over speeding speed and vehicles going off the designated track. Already, the speed limit is not being followed. The Core Zone of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve has a carrying capacity of 96 vehicles everyday.

The guides and drivers will be given cellphones having ‘Bagheera’ application at the entry gates before beginning of safari. The name of driver, guide and registration number of Gypsy will be feed into system. The data of safari will be gathered after safari. The analysis of data will help in understanding vehicular movement. In case of violations, the concerned driver and guide will be be given warning. If there is no change in their bevaviour, penal action will be taken later.

The geo tagging of tourist vehicles is being done to ensure vehicles do not go off track, move within the stipulated speed limit and an particular area does not have too many vehicles in case of tiger sightings. It is being observed that when guides get information about sighting of tiger at a particular spot, all vehicles rush towards ignoring the speed limit and sometimes even deviating from designated route. The animal gets disturbed due to such over crowding.