26,900 more CCTV cameras to be installed in Himachal by 2025: DGP

Bhanu P Lohumi

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Shimla, January 24

The state government plans to install 26,900 more CCTV cameras at identified locations in the state by 2025.

The required number of CCTV cameras to meet the target (saturation point) in seven of 13 police districts, namely Solan, Sirmaur, Mandi, Chamba, Una, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, will be installed in one year, while in Baddi, Bilaspur, Kullu, and Hamirpur districts, the exercise will take two years and in Shimla and Kangra it will be done by 2025.

Will help crack blind cases

The integration of CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recorder cameras and body cameras will help in reducing crime, maintaining law and order, and keeping a vigil on anti-social elements. It will also provide sufficient evidence to crack blind cases. — Sanjay Kundu, DGP

As many as 4,048 CCTV cameras were installed last year and their total number as on December 31, 2021, was 27,890. The requirement is to install 54,790 CCTV cameras to meet the target (saturation point), but we will surpass it by installing additional 13,000 cameras. In total, 67,000 CCTV cameras will be installed,” said DGP Sanjay Kundu while talking to The Tribune here today.

The third eye (CCTV cameras) would be installed in all vulnerable and strategic locations, besides, inter-state and inter-district borders, temples, important offices, police stations, educational institutions, areas prone to illegal mining, markets, railway station, taxi stands, bus stop and main squares.

“The Deputy Commissioners of all districts have been requested to release funds for the installation of CCTV cameras. Money is also being sought from temple trusts, mining fund, road safety fund and a few other departments,” he said.

Business establishments, hotels, industries, training institutes, shops and other institutions were being persuaded to set up CCTV cameras under the public private partnership mode, he added.

Kundu said, “The integration of CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recorder (ANPR) cameras and body cameras will help in reducing crime, maintaining law and order, and keeping a vigil on anti-social elements. It will also provide sufficient evidence to crack blind cases”.

“We have the example of Baddi where crime has reduced by 30 per cent and the recovery rate of stolen property has shot up to 100 per cent after the introduction of evidence-based policing and governance with the CCTV surveillance matrix,” the DGP said.