Bhubaneswar: In its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), in a joint initiative, sprayed disinfectant using drones from Rajmahal Square to Sishu Bhawan Square at 9:30 am on Tuesday.
Two drones were used on a trial basis for this purpose – one for surveillance purpose and the other for spraying disinfectant.
The drone, spraying disinfectant, had a capacity of carrying 15 litres of disinfectant and could spray the same over a stretch of 1.5 km at a spread of 5 mts within 15 minutes.
The BMC had barricaded the entire stretch from Rajmahal Square to Sishu Bhawan Square along with all the arterial roads joining the main road up to 2 pm to ensure that this stretch was free from people and animals while the disinfectant was being sprayed.
The civic body also had made all the necessary announcements at the same location regarding the spray of disinfectant.
The BMC had provided the disinfectant solution, which was mixed with water at a ratio of 1:100 before spraying. During the disinfectant spray, all the necessary support was provided by the Commissionerate Police. Based on the view captured by the surveillance drone as and when any person or animal identified on this stretch of road or footpath, police took required steps to move them out.