After 23 years of using old walkie-talkies, the Belagavi City Police Commissionerate is set to upgrade to digital walkie-talkies. The devices, first issued in 2002, have faced persistent issues in recent years, including battery failures, unclear audio, and interrupted communication.
Police officers often struggled to convey clear information due to loud and distorted noise. To resolve these issues, the department is introducing digital walkie-talkies, which will be fully operational within 10–15 days for all personnel in the commissionerate.
The Belgaum District Police have already implemented digital walkie-talkies across most police stations, with communication supported through about 12 repeater stations and a server. Now, similar devices will be provided to every officer in the city, including inspectors, sub-inspectors, ACPs, DCPs, and the commissioner. Walkie-talkies are also extensively used by the traffic police, the control room, and senior officers’ vehicles.
Old walkie-talkies often caused miscommunication, making it difficult for officers to relay messages promptly. The new digital devices promise clear voice transmission, instant communication, lightweight design, and additional features such as conversation recording and GPS location tracking of the user.
“Walkie-talkies have been in use since 2002, but battery issues and unclear audio have affected communication. Installation of towers and repeater stations is underway, and digital walkie-talkies will be operational in 10–15 days,” said Bhushan Borase, Police Commissioner, Belagavi City.
