5G tech, drones to help monitor Guangdong transport in holiday

5G technology and drones have been introduced in the southern province of Guangdong to help ensure good and sound operations for transport during the Spring Festival travel rush that began on Jan 10.

"Introduction of the new and high technology would help further upgrade the province's 'intelligent transportation' during the travel rush and play an important role in ensuring migrant workers go home smoothly and safety to spend the Lunar New Year that begins on Jan 25 with family members, relatives and friends," according to a statement released by Guangdong Provincial Department of Transportation on Wednesday.

Drones that fly above major highways would help monitor the transportation in real time, and effective and concrete measures would immediately be introduced when accidents and traffic jams have happened, said the statement.

The department forecasts more than 200 million passengers would travel home to spend the holiday and return to major cities in the province after the festival by land alone during the Spring Festival rush period that will end on Feb 18.

By the end of Monday, 21.79 million passengers had traveled home by coaches in the entire province.

Guangdong, one of the country's economic powerhouses and home to millions of foreign-funded companies, joint ventures and private-run firms, has the country's largest number of migrant workers.

Guangdong, window of the country's reform and opening-up, is usually the main battlefield of transportation in the country during the Spring Festival rush period, said the statement.