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New Delhi: In the wake of the recent terror attacks in urban centres across the country, Delhi Police are planning centralised and round-the-clock electronic surveillance in busy marketplaces and important installations.
As of now, Delhi Police have installed CCTV cameras at busy marketplaces in Sadar Bazar, Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj, Chandni Chowk besides Khan Market.
"However, the problem with these is that they are standalone systems with monitoring facilities only in the offices of the area's Station House Officer, the Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner," a senior officer said.
The new project, the brainchild of Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal, "aims at setting up of a central command and control centre for all the CCTV cameras across the city," said Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesman.
Global tender
The police floated a global tender for the integrated command system on July 18 and the project is expected to take a few months once a company to execute the project is selected.
A briefing is to be held on Thursday in the office of the Joint Commissioner of Police (Training) P.N. Aggarwal to brief all vendors who have evinced interest in the project.
"We are looking at a combination of PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) and fixed cameras with day and night vision so that we don't face any technology handicaps," said a senior Delhi Police officer.
The project would also provide for integration and upgrades of existing CCTV installations.
The police also have on hand other projects like the city video surveillance system for monitoring traffic movement and violations committed at various traffic intersections in the capital.
"The bidders also have to suggest a suitable system of interface between the proposed CCTV system and the existing city video surveillance system and intelligent traffic management system," said another senior officer.
"Live monitoring of markets and vulnerable places for crime prevention and maintaining overall security to prevent terrorist attacks is the main objective of this project," he added.
Spotlight on bicycle sales
The common man is likely to face closer scrutiny on purchasing the most common mode of transport in the national capital.
The recent serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad have led to a blanket ban on sale of bicycles to anyone not carrying an identity proof.
"It is a safety measure we have taken since terrorists have been of late using bicycles to execute their nefarious plans," said Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police Karnail Singh.
All bicycle sellers have been instructed to ask for identity proof of their customers and to retain a record of the same with them.
Intelligence agencies have already sounded the local authorities about possible terror attacks in the city. A high alert was sounded soon after serial blasts rocked Bangalore and Ahmedabad late last month. Security measures have been further tightened in the city in the week preceding the Independence Day celebrations, which means extra vigil from Friday for the main Independence Day celebration which takes place at the historic Red Fort from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation.
Bicycle bombs were widely used during recent terrorist strikes.
- By Ajay Jha, Chief Correspondent
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