Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra Embraces AR/VR and AI for Next-Gen Crowd Safety

Ahmedabad’s iconic Rath Yatra is set to become a showcase for next-gen AR, VR, and AI-powered security—offering a glimpse into how immersive tech is transforming public safety for mass events.

This year, with over a million devotees expected to line the 16-kilometer route, police are moving far beyond traditional surveillance. Trainee officers are now stepping into a digital twin of the procession, using a custom-built AR/VR platform that lets them virtually walk the entire route, study past video footage, and experience a 360-degree view of key hotspots—all before ever setting foot on the ground. It’s hands-on training, powered by immersive tech, that prepares officers for every scenario without the risks of real-world drills.

But the innovation doesn’t stop at training. For real-time crowd management, Ahmedabad Police have teamed up with startups to deploy AI-driven software that analyzes live feeds from more than 300 CCTV cameras and over 75 drones. This system continuously monitors crowd density and movement, instantly alerting command centers if a section becomes dangerously packed—helping prevent stampedes before they start

The AI isn’t just counting heads; it’s learning from patterns, predicting surges, and even triggering rapid deployment of resources or rerouting of crowds based on live data. This is a leap forward from static surveillance, blending the best of computer vision, predictive analytics, and immersive simulation.

Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra is a real-world case study in how spatial computing, AI, and drone tech can converge to create safer, smarter cities and events. The lessons learned here could shape the future of crowd management at festivals, concerts, sporting events, and beyond.

The future of public safety is immersive, intelligent, and happening now—on the vibrant streets of Ahmedabad.