Hyderabad: CCTV cameras fail to meet expectations

Hyderabad: Several cameras installed by the police as part of the community closed circuit cameras project in the colonies and main thoroughfares are not working.

The main problem attributed are the overhead cables getting damaged both due to the nature and human intervention. “Rain and gusty winds damage the equipment or the cables. Sometimes heavy vehicles carrying huge loads or local cable operators damage the cables unknowingly,” said an assistant commissioner rank police officer.

The police has installed a few thousand cameras with the support of local communities, including business establishments, corporate firms and public sector undertakings.

About 54,000 cameras have been installed as part of various public-police partnership initiatives, including community CCTV and Nenu Saitham project.  Another 10,000 cameras are being installed by the state government.

“When it comes to maintenance, there is no immediate response. We have to wait for days at a stretch to get the snag rectified. Mostly the wires get snapped,” said an inspector.

On an average, 20 per cent of the cameras do not work, posing problems for the cops investigating crimes. “Cameras installed in front of a police station were not working when a 100-strong mob created nuisance. Senior officers realised the severity of the problem after the incident. We were asked to get the cameras repaired and claim money,” another inspector said.

“Whenever, there is a snag, we inform the IT team of the city police who in turn inform the company who has been given the annual maintenance contract. One day, they are working in Jubilee Hills, the next day in Gopalapuram. They come only after continuously follow-ups,” said another ACP.

He said that there should be a technical team for every police division taking into account the huge numbers of cameras being installed in colonies and thoroughfares.

A senior officer said higher officials, after realising the problem had worked out guidelines and were stressing on laying underground cables. “The new high definition cameras are being installed by L&T. The cables are being laid underground and the company has been asked to deploy teams to immediately attend to snags,” said the official.