Kerala tests drone surveillance at Viyyur central prison

Published 24 July 2026 · india

Kerala has taken its first major step towards technology-driven prison security, with a pilot drone surveillance system being tested at the Viyyur Central Prison and

Kerala has taken its first major step towards technology-driven prison security, with a pilot drone surveillance system being tested at the Viyyur Central Prison and Correctional Home in Thrissur. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday (July 24, 2026) reviewed the trial run, which forms part of the State government’s initiative to strengthen prison security by integrating advanced technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence into correctional administration. The demonstration showcased the operational capabilities of the drone system, its potential applications in surveillance, and its usefulness in responding to security breaches and emergency situations. Director General of Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services S. Sreejith, Deputy Inspector General (Central Zone) S. Sajeev, and senior prison officials were present.

Spread over 139 acres, the Viyyur prison complex houses the central prison, high security prison, women’s prison, district jail and sub jail, accommodating between 1,700 and 2,000 inmates. Officials said the vast campus, sections without compound walls, dense tree cover and limited manpower pose significant challenges to conventional surveillance, making technology-assisted monitoring an attractive option. The department expects drones to enhance its ability to detect escape attempts, prevent the smuggling of banned materials into prison premises and monitor illegal activities around prison walls and treetops. Officials said combining advanced surveillance systems with existing manpower would significantly improve prison security and operational efficiency. As part of the trial, the department also demonstrated an artificial intelligence-based CCTV analytics system capable of identifying suspicious movements, unusual behaviour and potential security threats, while generating real-time alerts for prison personnel.

Following the successful pilot, the Prisons department said it would examine the feasibility of introducing similar technology in prisons across the State in a phased manner. The trial was conducted by the Federation of Aerospace Engineers and Robotics Innovations (FAERI), a charitable trust that promotes aerospace, robotics and emerging technologies. The State government plans to gradually introduce a suite of technologies at Viyyur, including satellite image integration for large-area surveillance, robotic security systems, AI-enabled monitoring, thermal imaging night-vision drones, drones equipped with police sirens and flashlights, ham radio communication systems, and long-range AI-enabled security cameras. The proposed system will also incorporate advanced features such as facial recognition for access control, automated inmate counting, crowd movement alerts, thermal detection of hiding persons, early fire detection, underground detection of hidden electronic devices including mobile phones, and person-tracking capabilities.