Functioning of Command & Control Centre hit as BEL stops data service

The functioning of Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), Sector 17, here has been affected with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) stopping its software services due to the non-payment of dues. The online traffic challan system has also become non-functional.

Sources said the MC had not paid over Rs 16 crore to the company, which provided data services to the centre.

The company has stopped its services to the centre from June 25. The ICCC houses the server of the CCTV cameras. The feed from the centre is transmitted to the police control unit, on the basis which online challans are issued. While CCTV cameras continue to capture violations, the data is not being saved at present.

The centre was started under the smart city project. Chandigarh Smart City Limited had signed the contract with Bharat Electronics Limited in 2020. Under the contract, the Smart City company was to pay Rs 1 crore per month for the operation of CCTV cameras.

The MC has not paid charges for the past 13 months, besides dues worth Rs 5 crore accumulated before starting of the project.

Sources in the MC said the problem started after the Smart City company was closed down and the project handed over to the MC.

Meanwhile, Himanshu Gupta, Joint Commissioner of MC, said the pending arrears will be paid soon. We have also requested the company to start providing its services. He said there was some issue regarding the verification of the old bills, which will be sorted out soon.