Finance panel approves 1.46 lakh CCTV cameras in govt schools

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16

The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) of the Delhi government has approved the installation of around 1.46 lakh CCTV cameras in the city government-run schools, besides giving nod to three more projects in a meeting chaired by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia yesterday.

The nod to the CCTV cameras in the schools assumes significance coming in the wake of LG Anil Baijal setting up a high-level committee to prepare common regulatory framework for the installation and monitoring of CCTV cameras across the capital triggering a war between the LG office and AAP dispensation strongly resenting the panel.

Briefing the media about the approvals, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said the CCTV project approved with an estimated cost of Rs 597.51 crore will be executed in six months. The cameras will be installed in each classroom, open spaces within the premises of 1,028 government schools.

As per the plan, there would be arrangement of LED screen for each school principal for live viewing of the video feed and parents will be facilitated to ensure they can see their children studying in the classrooms on a real-time basis.

Parents will be given user ID and password for the classroom of their child for viewing the video feed on their phone through a mobile app for 30 days.

Jain said tenders have been floated for the CCTV project and around seven companies have submitted their quotations. The work will be awarded only after the Cabinet gives its nod to the same.

Sharing details, the minister said of the total Rs 597.51 crore earmarked for the project, Rs 384.85 crore is for its execution while Rs 57.69 crore will be used for maintenance over five years once the project kicks off. Plus, Rs 154.97 crore is for internet connection charges for lease line during the stipulated number of years.

Jain said several projects, including construction of the Shastri Park intersection and Seelampur, construction of cluster bus depots in Rohini, Sector 37 — project commissioned at Rs 43.76 crore and underpass and subway on Outer Ring Road between Gopalpur red light and Jagatpur bridge, were also approved by the EFC.