Solapur Police Deploy ideaForge Q6 V2 Drones at Pandharpur Wari

The Solapur Rural Police have again turned to unmanned aircraft to manage one of India’s largest religious gatherings. On July 24, 2026, ideaForge Technology Limited announced the deployment of eight Q6 V2 drones equipped with megaphones to support crowd monitoring and public address along the 250-kilometer Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage route. This is the second consecutive year the company has backed the event, signaling that the partnership has moved from a trial to an operational staple.

For fleet operators and drone buyers, the Pandharpur deployment is more than a local news item. It illustrates how public safety agencies in price-sensitive, high-volume environments are committing to purpose-built, non-DJI platforms for mission-critical tasks. Understanding why Solapur Police chose the ideaForge Q6 V2 — and how they are using it — offers practical lessons for anyone evaluating drones for government tenders, large-scale event monitoring, or even second-hand market dynamics in the Indian subcontinent.

Pandharpur Wari deployment underscores growing police drone programs

The Pandharpur Wari is an annual pilgrimage that draws millions of devotees walking to the Vitthal temple over a multi-day route. Managing crowds, emergency response, and traffic across 250 kilometers of mixed terrain is a challenge that previously relied on ground patrols and helicopter overflights. By deploying eight Q6 V2 drones with integrated megaphones, the Solapur Rural Police can now broadcast real-time announcements directly into dense crowds and monitor congestion from the air.

The fact that ideaForge announced this as the second consecutive year of backing the pilgrimage is significant. It implies the police force found real operational value in the first year and decided to repeat and likely expand the deployment. For fleet managers, this validates the concept of dedicated public safety drone programs that are not occasional stunts but repeatable procedures. When a state police force standardizes on a specific model, it also creates a secondary market effect: retiring units become available for pre-owned DJI drones is one thing, but the growth of Indian OEMs like ideaForge may divert some government demand away from Chinese imports, affecting residual values of used DJI enterprise drones in that region.

ideaForge Q6 V2 as a public safety tool: What the deployment reveals

The source data identifies the Q6 V2 as “megaphone-equipped.” That single feature choice tells us the primary mission is aerial broadcast and deterrence, not surveillance or evidence gathering. For operators, this is a reminder that payload selection often defines the drone’s role more than the airframe itself. The Q6 V2 appears optimized for low-altitude loitering and voice interaction, which is fundamentally different from a mapping or thermal inspection flight profile.

Police forces considering similar programs should note that the megaphone integration was likely a custom or semi-custom solution from ideaForge. That kind of payload integration is easier to procure as a complete drone-plus-payload package from one vendor than to retrofit onto a general-purpose platform. For buyers, this reinforces the value of OEM-pulled parts and professional DJI repair services when adapting existing fleets to new missions — because whether you standardize on ideaForge or DJI, the total cost of ownership depends on how easily the airframe accepts mission-specific payloads.

The 250-kilometer route also implies the need for multiple battery swaps or a mobile charging infrastructure. Fleet operators planning similar large-area operations should evaluate whether the drone they choose supports hot-swappable batteries and field charging. While the source does not specify the Q6 V2’s flight time or battery system, the logistical requirement is clear: multi-day, multi-kilometer coverage demands more than a single drone and a handful of packs.

What this means for drone buyers

For commercial operators, repair customers, and buyers in the pre-owned DJI market, the Pandharpur deployment offers a concrete data point in the ongoing diversification of the drone supply chain. ideaForge is a publicly traded Indian company (NSE: IDEA), and its growing presence in police contracts may influence how government and enterprise buyers allocate budgets. If state-level police forces in India shift procurement toward domestic OEMs, the volume of DJI enterprise drones entering the pre-owned market could increase as older DJI units are rotated out of government fleets.

That scenario would benefit buyers looking for inspected pre-owned DJI drones — more supply, potentially lower prices. But it also raises a risk for fleet operators who own DJI hardware: if they rely on government contracts that now favor Indian-made drones, they may need to either diversify their fleet or offer mixed-vendor services. Having access to genuine OEM spare parts and professional drone repair becomes even more critical to extend the life of existing DJI assets.

The operator-facing answer here is straightforward: monitor procurement patterns in your region. If agencies you serve are evaluating non-DJI options, start a conversation early about interoperability and support. If you are a buyer of pre-owned DJI drones, this news suggests that the secondary market may see increased inflow from Indian public safety sources within the next 12–18 months. Use a drone trade-in guide to plan upgrades before that supply hits, because pricing may become more competitive.

Broader implications for the second-hand drone market

While the source data centers on a single police operation, its second-year recurrence points to a structural trend. Public safety drone adoption is maturing from pilot programs into sustained operations. As more agencies commit to specific models, their older drones — often DJI Mavic, Matrice, or Phantom series — enter the resale channel. This is already visible in markets like the United States, where police departments that upgrade to Autel or Skydio frequently list their used DJI equipment publicly.

Reboot Hub analysis: India is a large potential pool for such inventory. If ideaForge captures a significant share of the domestic police drone market, hundreds of DJI units could be decommissioned from Indian law enforcement over the next few years. Those aircraft would likely be exported to pre-owned DJI drone dealers in other regions, altering supply dynamics. For now, this is a forecast, not a certainty — but operators planning 2027 fleet budgets should build in a scenario where pre-owned DJI pricing softens due to Indian police upgrades.

Repair customers should also watch this trend. If more DJI units are retired from hard-use government service, they may have higher flight hours and more wear. That makes professional DJI repair services even more valuable for bringing those units to a reliable standard. The ability to source OEM-pulled parts becomes a competitive advantage for repair shops that can refurbish ex-government drones for resale or lease.

How does the Q6 V2 compare to DJI enterprise drones for police use?

The source data does not provide a direct comparison, but the megaphone payload suggests a focus on public address rather than advanced imaging. DJI enterprise drones like the Matrice 30 series offer more modular payload options, longer range, and thermal cameras, which may be overkill for voice-only missions. The Q6 V2’s value proposition appears to be simplicity and Indian manufacturing compliance, which may matter more for police forces subject to domestic procurement preferences than raw specifications.

Should I consider selling my DJI drone now if I operate in India?

Not necessarily. The Pandharpur deployment is just one police contract. However, if you own a DJI drone used for government work and you see your local police force testing ideaForge or other Indian OEMs, it is prudent to evaluate your resale options early. Using a drone trade-in guide can help you time the sale before a potential oversupply of ex-government DJI units depresses prices.

Does this deployment affect the availability of spare parts for the Q6 V2?

The source does not mention spare parts availability. For any niche OEM like ideaForge, parts supply is typically more limited than for DJI. Buyers of the Q6 V2 should verify local service centers and lead times for genuine OEM spare parts before committing to a fleet. Conversely, the wide availability of OEM-pulled parts and professional repair services for DJI remains a key advantage for operators who value long-term support.