5,000 CCTV cameras to come up around key roads

Even as the police continue to struggle to bring all marketplaces and border check posts under their surveillance, though it was to be done prior to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Home Ministry has instructed the force to make use of technology to improve the overall safety and security in Delhi.

"Around 56 markets and 27 border check posts have to be secured with CCTV cameras. We will instal over 5,000 cameras at all important public places; CCTV cameras will also be installed at vulnerable locations and congested areas. The police are trying to convince hotels and malls to instal CCTV cameras for their own safety," said a senior Delhi Police officer.

According to the police, 34 marketplaces and four border check posts are already under CCTV surveillance and the remaining ones will be covered by 2014. Surveillance of district courts is in the final stage of implementation with the High Court and a part of the Supreme Court having CCTV cameras. As per the plan, all CCTV cameras in public or private establishments will be connected to a central system, which will integrate existing cameras with the new ones at road intersections and traffic junctions. Private cameras at malls, markets, banks, offices and security cameras of the Delhi Metro, inter-state bus terminals, railway stations and iconic buildings will also be part of the system, said officials.

This surveillance network will work in conjunction with the ITS project that will have synchronised signal cycles, variable messaging service and cameras to check speeding and traffic signal violations.

However, as of now the intelligent traffic signalling system exists only on paper.

The project of installing CCTV cameras in DTC buses has also failed to take off with the police and the Transport department blaming each other.

"We have to only give specifications on what kind of cameras need to be installed in DTC buses, the task of purchasing and installing cameras has to be carried out by the transport department," said a police officer. The transport department, on the other hand, maintained that they cannot purchase cameras till the police provided them with required specifications. "We cannot purchase cameras till the police provide us with specifications,'' said Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami.

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