Chittoor town, considered the gateway to highways connecting Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, will soon come under digital surveillance, with police considering installing more than 270 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at as many as 90 junctions.
At present, the district headquarters and the surrounding areas with a population of over 2.5 lakh are not equipped with even a single CCTV camera, posing difficulties to police. For the last couple of years, the district police have been trying to rope in the municipal corporation authorities to assist them in making digital surveillance a reality, but the proposals were shelved, thanks to paucity of funds.
Circle Inspector (Crime) M. Mahesh said in view of Chittoor sharing borders with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and with hundreds of inter-State vehicles passing through the highways, digital surveillance was inevitable. “This move is in accordance with the stipulations of the Andhra Pradesh Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act, 2013. We held discussions with several private firms in and around Chittoor. Some of them have come forward to donate the equipment required for the digital surveillance project,” he added.
Apart from the heart of the town, outskirts will come under focus, not to mention bypasses connecting neighbouring States. “Very soon, we will be fully equipped with sophisticated digital surveillance. Once this becomes a reality, we are hopeful of zero per cent crime rate,” Mr. Mahesh added. Places such as Murakambattu, Vellore and Chennai roads, Bangalore bypass road, Puttur and Tiruttani roads towards Tamil Nadu given top priority under the project.
Meanwhile, the recent seizure of red sanders logs right in the heart of Chittoor town, running into crores of rupees, has prompted the district police authorities to speed up the surveillance modules.
CLEARING THE ROUTE
*There is no digital camera surveillance in Chittoor town and surrounding areas now
*Lack of digital cameras has been posing difficulties to police in probing crimes
*The project is in accordance with AP Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act, 2013
*Private firms to donate equipment needed for the digital surveillance project
*Police are prompted to go for the project by the recent seizure of red sanders in Chittoor
AREAS TO BE SPECIALLY WATCHED
1.Murakambattu
2.Vellore and Chennai roads
3.Bangalore bypass road
4.Puttur and Tiruttani roads towards Tamil Nadu
WHY DIGITAL CAMERAS ARE INEVITABLE?
*It shares borders with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
*Hundreds of inter-State vehicles pass through highways
Population of Chittoor: 2.5 lakh
. “Very soon, we will be fully equipped with sophisticated digital surveillance. Once this becomes a reality, we are hopeful of zero per cent crime rate,”
