Mumbai now under CCTV surveillance

Chief minister launches phase-I of Rs 9.49 billion project.

Mumbai: The first phase of a comprehensive CCTV surveillance project covering the metropolis was inaugurated here by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday.
"We plan to complete all three phases of the project before the October 2016 deadline," said Fadnavis after inaugurating the first phase, which includes 1,381 cameras installed at 434 places in south Mumbai between Colaba and Worli. The entire phase will see the installation of 6,000 CCTVs across Mumbai.
Earlier in February, the state government had signed a Rs9.49 billion deal with leading Indian engineering company Larsen & Toubro to install 6,000 CCTVs at about 1,500 locations across the city and suburbs. The aim is to have an average of 14 cameras per sq km. The project also includes fitting a dozen patrol cars with mounted cameras and nearly 1,000 police vans with GPS.
Besides helping the police tackle law and order and traffic management, it would also ensure surveillance of the seas, with 20 thermal cameras monitoring the coastline.
Fadnavis said the project would help in preventing crime, ensuring early response from the police and also speeding up detection, prosecution and conviction of various crimes. The cameras would ensure face detection and number plate identification. It would also be an integral part of the proposed smart city project.
The chief minister assured that the three-phase project would be executed before the next anniversary of 26/11. The plan to set up such a system was mooted by the Ram Pradhan committee, which had been set up after the 26/11 terror attacks on the city in 2008. The committee had suggested a comprehensive CCTV network to monitor crime and terrorist activities.
Pointing out the loopholes in the city's security system, the committee had noted that the police did not have access to CCTVs at hotels, office buildings and even residential complexes. Footage from these cameras could be obtained only after the crime had been committed and by meeting some legal requirements. The previous government had failed to award contracts to bidders and more than five years were wasted before the deal was signed.
According to the government, Pune is the only city in Maharashtra with 100 per cent CCTV surveillance. The government is planning similar systems in other major cities including Nagpur and Nashik.
nithin@khaleejtimes.com

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