Mumbai: The State Cabinet on Tuesday sanctioned the expansion of CCTV camera network with an expenditure of ₹980.33 crore and its integration with Dial 100 control room, which will help the police identify the caller with exact location and reduce response time.
The government has already installed 4,746 cameras and with the expansion, 5,000 more cameras will likely be added. A committee headed by the Chief Secretary will soon take the decision on the number of new cameras.
The government installed CCTV cameras on the recommendations of Pradhan panel which probed the 26/11 terror attacks. The cameras fixed on 2,293 poles at 1,512 locations across the city went live on September 2017. The Mumbai Police have now proposed to widen the scope by covering areas left out in the first phase.
The government had signed an agreement with L&T in February 2015 for the implementation of the project in which the provision of additional 3,000 cameras was made. However, the government has decided to add 5,000 cameras, for which fresh tendering will be done. Besides, ₹11.39 crore will be spent on the integration of the CCTV network with Dial 100 project of the Mumbai Police commissionerate.
Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) has one lakh images of criminals and the expansion of CCTV network with possible linking of it with the CCTNS is likely to help the police nab them. The CCTV network has played a vital role in curbing traffic crimes as well, with officials claiming to have issued eight lakh e-challans.
