Six months after the Delhi Cabinet’s approval and five years after the gruesome incident it is named after, the Delhi government has sought from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) financial assistance channelled through the Nirbhaya Fund to install CCTV cameras aboard Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses.
A Delhi government source said several attempts were made by the government over the years, with the latest in June this year, prior to which the DTC had sought funds for the purpose in the year 2014.
At the moment, none of the buses being operated by the State transporter have CCTV cameras. However, marshals to oversee the safety and security of passengers, especially women commuters, are deployed on a daily basis.
“The Transport Department has written to the MHA requesting disbursal of funds for installation of 6,350 CCTV cameras aboard State-run buses,” said a senior government official, adding that financial assistance required could amount to around ₹140 crore.
According to the official, the proposal entailed installation of at least three cameras aboard each bus. In fact, the Transport Department is looking to appoint a consultant for the project, which aims at making real-time surveillance from 6,350 vehicles possible from a central location at the push of a panic button.
“The project envisages implementation of a video-based surveillance system in accordance with the highest standards available for monitoring the activities of commuters using DTC and cluster buses, and also the crew members,” said the official.
The objective of the project, the official said, was to ensure the safety and security of passengers, particularly women, through IP-based CCTV cameras. As per the plan, three cameras are to be installed on each bus along with a screen to telecast the output from each of these cameras aboard the vehicle.
“The idea is to be able to assess past and future recordings of any incident in the bus remotely through a central control room or as and when the authorities intend to view the live video,” the official said.
In February this year, amicus curiae and senior advocate Indira Jaising had informed the Supreme Court that crores allocated for the Nirbhaya Fund for initiatives to support women’s safety and dignity lay unused as crime against women continue to peak.
