For the first time, Ripon Buildings — the seat of Chennai Corporation — has been fitted with CCTV cameras at its entrance, as part of measures to secure the building following the twin blasts at Central Station on Thursday.
According to the Corporation’s Vigilance Officer S. Elango, although the interior of the building had CCTV surveillance, the entryways were not monitored.
“The north, south and east entrances have been fitted with CCTV cameras on Saturday, and we will increase surveillance in the coming days,” he said.
Mr. Elango added that there will also be stricter security arrangements such as issuing passes for visitors.
“We have now decided to monitor each visitor’s entry and exit, asking them to sign at the entrance, as well as issuing passes and checking them on the way out,” he said.
Staff, at Ripon Buildings, which is less than a kilometre from the Chennai Central, expressed relief at the measure.
“I was shocked that the blasts could happen so close to my workplace. The security measures set me at ease, and I take comfort in the strict monitoring at the building,” said a member of the Corporation staff.
The CB-CID is scrutinising the CCTV footage released by the State police of Platform 9 at Central, where the twin blasts took place.
