6,020 CCTV cameras to be installed in Mumbai by September 2016

Mumbai: A project to install over 6000 CCTV cameras in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 949 crore to beef up surveillance in crucial places of the city will be completed by September, 2016, a Maharashtra Home department official has said.

The project was first proposed during the earlier Congress-NCP government after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and has been delayed since then. It could not move ahead despite bids being invited four times.

The BJP-led government, after coming to power in 2014, formed a high-power committee to push the project and contract for the same was signed in February, 2015.

The city has been divided into two zones for the completion of the project wherein around 1,400 CCTV cameras in the south zone (comprising areas in Central and South Mumbai) will be installed by November this year, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) KP Bakshi said.

"Officials from the Mumbai Police department, MCGM chief Ajoy Mehta along with technical representatives have completed the survey of South Mumbai. We have also sent our applications to the MCGM to dig roads, erect poles and cut roads wherever required. I am highly positive of completing the installing of cameras in the south zone of Mumbai by November this year," Bakshi said.

At 437 locations surveyed in the south Mumbai, 556 poles will be erected, he said.

"Out of the total applications that we have submitted to the MCGM, we have got permission for about 40 per cent of the work. And for almost all of these places, the department has deposited money with the MCGM. Out of the 40 per cent of the permissions that we have received, we have erected poles at about 25-30 per cent of the locations," he said.

Bakshi said that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has procured about 60-70 per cent of the equipment, like cameras and other hardware, that have been stored in its warehouses.

After the monsoon season ends this year, the Home department will seek permissions for digging to set up poles for installation of CCTV in other parts of the city. The department plans to complete the installation of 6,020 CTTVs by September 2016, Bakshi said.

"I have also requested MCGM Commissioner Ajoy Mehta that in case of digging, the corporation has to give concessions to the department as this is a government project and more importantly, it is a matter of security of the city," he said.