Mumbai now under CCTV surveillance, CM launches project phase-I

Mumbai: Asserting that digital intervention will help increase efficiency in policing, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the Mumbai city surveillance project of installation of over 6,000 CCTVs would be completed before the 26/11 terror attacks anniversary next year.

Addressing a gathering after launching the first phase of the project covering south Mumbai - from Colaba to Worli - where 1,381 cameras have been installed, he said the CCTV network would boost crime prevention, early response, detection, prosecution and conviction.

"After all three phases of the project are completed, there will be 100 per cent command and control system integration. With the data integration, we will be able to evolve a comprehensive strategy to tackle crime," he said.

The entire project to install CCTVs at all the crucial places in the city is expected to cost around Rs 949 crore. "My government's endeavour is to ensure optimum use of manpower with technological intervention for effective policing. We plan to complete all the three phases before the

October 2016 deadline. By next year's 26/11 anniversary, the entire city of Mumbai would be under digital camera surveillance," he said. "At present, the effort worldwide is to create smart cities. An integral part of a smart city is that it should be safe. If a city is not safe, it cannot be smart," he said.

Fadnavis said challenges regarding security measures are enormous and it is impossible to tackle them only with manpower. "Technological intervention is necessary," he said. Stating that all important cities in the state would be brought under digital surveillance, Fadnavis informed that Pune is the first city to be under CCTV network.

The digital surveillance in Nashik would be upgraded from the system used for the Nashik Kumbh. Steps are being taken to install the CCTV network in Nagpur as well. The Chief Minister said that face detection, number plate identification and data analysis system facilities would be available after the entire project is completed.

Admitting that were delays earlier in implementation of the CCTV network, despite best efforts, Fadnavis, however, said that L&T, which was given the contract in February 2015, was able to complete the first phase in the stipulated time.

He said the data feed from the CCTVs would be sent to Mumbai Police headquarters and traffic police headquarters at Worli command centre. Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said a high-powered committee set up earlier under the CS could not take a decision regarding the project despite being given all powers by the government.

"But I am happy that after I took over, we were able to take some decisions to ensure that the CCTV network sees the light of the day," he said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi said the number of cameras in first phase increased from 1,200 to 1,381 because, as per High Court's request, additional 63  cameras were installed in the sessions court area.

Apart from the sessions court area, additional cameras were also installed at the Mumbai Port Trust and Girgaum Chowpatty areas.