RG Kar security set for beef-up with 532 new CCTV cameras
Times of India | 25 September 2024
Kolkata: RG Kar Medical College is set to undergo a major security overhaul with the installation of 532 new CCTV cameras.
The decision was taken at a meeting among the hospital authorities, nodal officers from the state home department, Swasthya Bhawan, police and CISF on Tuesday. The hospital has 200-odd CCTV cameras. “In the first phase, 100 CCTV cameras will be put up expectedly by Thursday.Altogether, the campus will have 700-puls CCTV cameras,” said a hospital official.
Ever since the rape and murder of a 31-year-old PGT doctor at RG Kar on Aug 9, junior doctors have been demanding proper security on govt hospital campuses. Junior doctors are still on partial cease-work over the safety demand, among others. A hospital official said as the security revamp and overhauling of basic amenities involved re-construction and renovation in the building, where the crime allegedly took place, they were treading with caution.
“The first set of 100 cameras will be installed at all the entry and exit points on different floors of the emergency and trauma care buildings. The rest will be ordered and installed in phases, covering the entire premises,” said a senior police officer. Cops said they were also attempting to issue colour-coded ID cards for private security guards at RG Kar for better accountability.
At the Tuesday meeting, it was also decided that valid ID cards would be a must for entering secured areas, such as the OT and CCU. “An integrated security command room is also in the offing. Once all the CCTV cameras are installed, they will be connected to a server in the command room for monitoring,” said the hospital official.
The govt has approved 85 extra security guards in addition to its existing pool of around 230. Recruitment has started and antecedents of the new recruits are being verified by police.
The hospital, in consultation with junior doctors, has identified departments that need new constructions for resident doctors’ duty rooms and washrooms . “Work order has been placed and vendors have been selected but we do not have access to some departments, now under CBI. We can start work only when CBI gives the green signal,” said a hospital official. Most medical colleges have started work and a visible change is expected by this weekend.