Kolkata: The city police wants to set up hundreds of cameras on Kolkata's roads to check crime, not merely monitor and penalise traffic violations. The shift in stance was indicated by police commissioner Manoj Verma. Cameras for this purpose will be sourced using the Nirbhaya project funds supplied by the Union home ministry.
Speaking about the incident where a woman's body was found in a strolley at Kumartoli Ghat on Tuesday, Verma said a review will be carried out to identify locations where fresh CCTV cameras need to be installed.
"The existing CCTV cameras are mostly set up to meet traffic requirements. There are some govt and private CCTV cameras, too, but they primarily ensure safety of the establishments. We need to increase cameras that can deter and detect crime," Verma said.
These cameras will cover crime-sensitive hotspots and procession routes. "The project includes deployment of automated number plate recognition cameras with sensors at critical locations to identify registration plates of suspects' vehicles. A geospatial mapping system is being employed to track crimes, criminals, incidents, and camera locations on a digital map to analyse the city's security landscape," an officer said.
Kolkata Police is implementing the second phase of the Nirbhaya project, where cops will install one-five CCTV cameras in every 1 sqkm in neighbourhoods frequented by women and children. These new cameras will be part of the same project. A fund of Rs 39 crore has been sanctioned and Lalbazar has issued work orders to install around 5,000 CCTV cameras.
The final plan includes setting up 6,700 CCTV cameras in Kolkata and Bhangar at a cost of Rs 58 crore. This phase will focus on installing cameras near schools, colleges, and religious sites, and work has begun in Behala, Jadavpur, port, east, north and central divisions. This will be over and above cameras that will be placed at key spots on the streets.