Traffic Police will have a bird’s eye view on traffic movement during the Commonwealth Games in the city in October next year. Literally.

High-resolution cameras fixed in aerostat balloons will capture real time images and relay it to the traffic vehicles stationed nearby.

The staff watching the images will inform their colleagues manning the intersection about increasing queues and obstructions in smooth traffic flow. Senior traffic police officers said trials were conducted in the past few days and were successful.

"High-resolution PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras will be fixed on the large balloons filled with helium gas and would be suspended at important traffic intersections," Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) S.N. Shrivastava said. "It is not possible to keep an eye on the entire stretch of road from one point. Camera fitted balloons would be very helpful," he added.

Traffic police officers said trials were conducted at two places in the city - India Gate and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The equipment, said officers, was found useful.

"Not just Commonwealth Games, it can be used for other important festivals and events in the capital where concentration of vehicles at a particular part is very high," Shrivastava said.

Senior officers said they are identifying locations where "balloon cameras" could be installed during the Commonwealth Games. Officers said intersections that witness heavy volume of traffic and the movement of teams and spectators during the games would have such cameras.

"We are trying to work out the modalities whether we will have to buy them or can take on lease," a senior traffic police officer said.