The government allotted 184 CCTV cameras to be installed at traffic signals the city during the World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010. But, the cameras gradually became defunct. Last year, a senior police official said that only 14 of these cameras were in working condition.
The annual maintenance contract for these cameras given to a private company was also cancelled and for about a year there was no one to service them. The exact number of cameras at signals that are working is not known, but police sources say that in some of them the cable alone needs replacement.
Police said that police stations in the city have been asked to carry out repair and maintenance works in CCTV cameras installed in areas under their jurisdiction. They are hopeful that the work will be completed in the next few weeks.
City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan said that more than 200 CCTV fixed focus cameras will be installed at 57 traffic signals in the city. “It is to ensure that all the roads in the signal are covered,” he said.
The commissioner added that increasing CCTV surveillance at signals is part of a tender floated to attract sponsors to maintain traffic signals in the city.
