Move to get stuck CCTV idea back on track

Elected members of the PMC opposed the appointment of a private agency arguing that the PMC was not the one which should penalise violators and the decision should be taken jointly by the PMC,city police and RTO.

There are plans to puts the plan in place shortly,according to Additional City Engineer Srinivas Bonala.

The PMC had kickstarted the ITS plan by installing 70 cameras,most of them at important road junctions,aimed at penalising those jumping signals or violating speed limits,the cameras were to help in effective management of traffic signals,too.

“The purpose of ITS has never been security surveillance but police benefited from it and sought footage 30 times,” said Bonala.

He said there was a move to revive the proposal shortly. He added,“We plan to start ITS as early as possible. Appointment of an agency is in process.” He refused to elaborate,or comment on reasons for the delay.

A Pune police crime branch officer said,“These cameras are crucial to not just traffic control but also overall surveillance. PMC does share with us footage as per requirement but for effective use of the system,there should be a joint control room and the police must be given control of PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) movements of cameras. Location of some of the cameras should be as per our requirement.”

Bonala said the system had led to action against 30 drivers of PMPML for overtaking vehicles wrongly and driving rashly.

He added that the system had registered 8.7 lakh violations since January 2010,but those responsible could not be penalised as there is no agency in place.

A senior traffic police officer said,“In 2009,the proposal to install about 305 CCTV cameras at about 100 crucial squares in the city was submitted. At present,in 21 squares,there are cameras,but the control room is with the PMC.”

Fund crunch hits home plan

The much-hyped proposal of installing CCTV cameras at all traffic signals,an initiative of the home department ,is stuck for lack of funds. The proposal agreed in principle by the state home department is stuck over who would fund the initiative. Minister of State for Home Satej Patil had last month mentioned that the district collectorate should fund the project. With the collectorate having a fund crunch for special projects,the move is not taking off. The project was to beef up security in the district following the German Bakery blast.