The much-delayed CCTV project for Mumbai will be expedited with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directing officials to ensure speedy completion of the project in the city and a few other places in the backdrop of security concerns.
Fadnavis, who chaired a meeting with senior home department officials to review the CCTV project, said efforts should be made to operationalise the project in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad as soon as possible, an official said.
There should be a permanent CCTV system for the Nashik Kumbh mela, instead of the temporary arrangements made on rental basis, Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said.
Earlier this year, Maharashtra government had invited tenders for the Mumbai CCTV project. Following the 26/11 terror attacks, which saw 10 Pakistani terrorists wreaking havoc in Mumbai and killing 166 people, the state had decided to set up a network of 6,000 close-circuit television cameras to improve security cover for the city.
Under the programme, the CCTV cameras will be installed at important locations across the city. While about 4,800 digital eyes will be wired, the remaining will have wireless linkage with the control room.
There will be video walls at five regional offices of the police and manned by a dedicated staff. They can be used for various purposes such as radio broadcasting to alert people about road congestion, traffic police vigil and manning by the local police.
The meeting also reviewed basic facilities for police department, filling up vacancies in the police force, boosting police stations in Naxal areas and modernisation of forensic labs in the state.
