Surveillance project: In Phase 1, Mumbai gets 1,381 cameras at 434 locations

The often repeated phrase at the inauguration that was attended by Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya, Mumbai’s Guardian Minister Subhash Desai of the Shiv Sena, DGP Praveen Dixit among others was “better late than never”, as everyone was aware that the facility was set up seven years after the recommendation to install CCTV cameras across the city made by the Ram Pradhan committee — set up in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.

The recommendation was submitted to the then chief minister on December 21, 2009. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday promised that by next October, the two other phases of the project, expected to cost Rs 959 crore and executed by Larsen and Tubro (L&T), should be up and “by the next 26/11 anniversary, the entire city will be covered by a network of at least 5,000 CCTV cameras”

Later, while addressing the media the CM added that once all three phases are operational and the feed is integrated to the common command centre, they would be able to add the Automated Number Plate Recognition (APNR) and face recognition facility that will complete the “intelligent network” and help the law enforcing agencies.

Apart from the command and control centre at the police headquarters, the footage from is also available with the traffic control room along with police stations. Calling it a big day for Mumbai, city Police Commissioner Ahmad Javed said that “this will help in maintaining law and order, traffic and curbing crime”.

Javed added that they will also be sharing feed with the Navi Mumbai police that too has a CCTV network footage extending the entire networking to the greater Mumbai region. An officer added that already there are certain private CCTV footage from shops in Zaveri Bazaar that is shared with the Mumbai police.

A senior traffic officer said that this will enable them to fast-track several projects that have been in the pipeline like ‘e-challan’. He added that influential people are often involved in traffic violations and “they will now think twice” before breaking the law as it will all be on record. An officer said that apart from helping the police to tackle law and order problems and investigate cases, the network will also help them build strong cases in which the criminal act is captured on the CCTV network.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) KP Bakshi said that the project would have been implemented earlier and gave three reasons for the delay.

“Just as we were on the last leg of phase-1, it was decided to install CCTV cameras in the sessions court premises to ensure that inmates who come to court do not use the hearings as an opportunity to smuggle illegal things inside prison premises. Secondly, they were asked to mount more cameras at the Girgaum Chowpatty stretch and the Mumbai Port Trust area. From 1,250 cameras, we ended up installing 1,381 cameras. This added to the delay,” Bakshi said.

Chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said that he was hoping there was no time and cost overrun for the other two phases of the network that is to come up in the city. Shiv Sena’s Subhash Desai pointed out that there were CCTV cameras installed in the command centres as well to ensure that those meant to be monitoring the footage are on their job.

“Technology per se will not prevent crime and the police staff will have to be all the more responsible as if crimes continue inspite of these network, questions will be raised about them,” Desai said.

Talking about how a CCTV network benefited other factors as well, the CM said that in Pune, that was the first city to have a 100 per cent CCTV network which could read vehicle number plates, they could keep a track of vehicles coming from outside that would have to pay toll and check them with the toll collection to ensure there was no corruption taking place.