The Chennai city police will be able to monitor sensitive areas in a more efficient manner as Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced that 2,700 CCTV cameras will be installed across Chennai.
The Chief Minister made the announcement in the assembly on Tuesday. She said that all the 135 police stations in the city will be provided with 20 CCTV cameras each. This is for monitoring crowded areas to prevent any sort of crime.
Besides, mobile CCTV cameras will be installed in 200 patrol vehicles at a cost of Rs. two crore for supervision and monitoring of protests by senior police officers. This way officers can analyse the problems faced by the public during protests by various political and non-political outfits.
The Chennai police will also be getting 135 narrow wheel based vehicles (like Gypsy cars) for patrolling densely populated areas in the city like T.Nagar, Mylapore, Triplicane and Pulianthope. This is being provided at a cost of Rs.9.5 crore. “We can easily manoeuvre through lane in these vehicles,” said a senior police officer. The police will also be provided with 1000 two wheelers for better patrolling at a cost of Rs.4.50 crore and 25 jeeps at a cost of Rs.1.25 crore.
The government will also be providing 100 breathalysers to the Chennai traffic police. In 2012, 19,436 cases were filed against drunk driving and this year till date 9,858 cases have been registered. But as on date the police only has 84 of them to nab the offenders. For making the city roads safer, the government is providing more such equipment at a cost of Rs.50 lakh.
The police will also be provided with 12 vehicles fitted audio visual equipment for creating awareness among public on crime prevention and observance of traffic rules including dangers of drunken driving at a cost of Rs.1.80 crore.
The chief minister also announced that the Egmore police hospital will be upgraded and the police hospitals in Coimbatore and Avadi will also be improved. Community halls for Chennai police for organising social functions and training will also be constructed.
The state government will also be creating facilities for custodial safety of prisoners during court trials. This is being done to prevent the prisoners from escaping while they are brought to the court for trials.
Besides, the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services will have five new stations in the city. These will be situated in Thoraipakkam, Velachery, Virugambakkam, Maduravoyal and Madhavaram.
- New vehicles, including narrow-wheel cars, two-wheelers and jeeps, to be provided too
- City traffic police to get 100 breathalysers
