The smart signal with CC TV camera project was conceived about four years ago and the contract was awarded to a Hyderabad-based firm Stanpower under a BOT (build operate transfer) basis. The contract was under tripartite agreement between Stanpower- Police department and GVMC.
The project first hit a roadblock when about 24 of its erected smart signal poles and CC TV cameras that were installed were completely destroyed when very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud hit the city in October 2014. The project had to be re-started from the scratch following instructions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
But the project appears to be in limbo. It has again hit a roadblock reportedly due to a tussle between Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department and Police Department.
Present status
Out of the assigned 94 junctions, basic signals have been installed in 36 junctions and 16 blinkers have been erected, across the city.
Thereafter, the project was stalled for several months, as a case was filed against Stanpower by advertising companies, questioning its sole monopoly of revenue earning model through hoardings and billboards.
But according to officials in GVMC, Police Department and Stanpower, the AP High Court has given a directive to go ahead with the project and MAUD has issued a letter to extend the time to enable Stanpower complete all the junctions within two months, with IOT-based smart signals, as indicated in the original contract.
But it has again hit a roadblock with the MAUD insisting that the command control centre (CCC) be installed at GVMC under the purview of MAUD.
Sources in the police say this has not gone down well with the men in khaki.
The signals project – though is a tripartite agreement- is basically an idea of the Police Department.
“It is the Traffic Police Department that man the junctions and a CCC is already in place at the Police Commissioner’s office that was inaugurated by the Chief Minister in 2016. It is from here that the trained officers monitor the junctions,” said a senior police officer.
The traffic command control centre houses a video wall of twelve 50-inch LED monitors that is integrated with 47 high-definition PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras, mounted on 47 signal posts.
The video wall receives about 160 live feeds simultaneously and is hooked to the cameras with a dedicated optic fibre line.
The CCC was the brainchild of two Commissioners of Police – Amit Garg and T. Yoganand, and a lot of effort has gone in building the CCC, which includes mobilising of funds from various sectors. And moreover, CCC is not just to monitor traffic issues but the project serves as major surveillance and security tool. “And we have cracked many crimes using the footages of the CC TV network in the recent times,” said another senior officer.
An official from GVMC, however, pointed out that though the MAUD has given a letter to that effect, it is still examining the possibilities and are in consultation with the police.
Meanwhile it is also learnt that the police are contemplating to change the service provider Stanpower, as they are not happy with his work and a senior police officer informed The Hindu that Stanpower has some major issues with AP Transco.
