61 CCTV cameras to keep a watch on Gurgaon

GURGAON: The city's key areas will go under 24 x 7 surveillance in the new year. MCG has started the work to intall 61 CCTV cameras at 13 different locations, including Rajeev Chowk, Iffco Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Mini Secretariat and Sector 31 crossing. These cameras, purchased at a cost of Rs 3 crore, will be used for monitoring traffic in the Millennium City as well.

Officials say at least 48 cameras will be made operational at 10 locations within the next two months, while the remaining ones will be installed at Rajeev Chowk, Iffco Chowk and Signature Towers crossing -the city's three busiest intersections -only after the construction work of the underpass is completed, which could take another two years.

According to officials, the quality of these cameras is excellent and they can record clear visuals even in the dark.

"Of the 61 cameras, there will be 44 fixed cameras, 12 PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras and five ANPR (automatic number plate reader) cameras. The 44 fixed focal length cameras can record clear ootage up to a distance of 100 metres. However, the 12 PTZ cameras have a variable focal length of 5-550mm and have an additional pan and ilt option with a zoom capability that allows magnifica ion of the image by 30 times 30x optical zoom)," a senior official said.

These cameras will be used for live monitoring and the footage can be stored up to 30 days. The PTZ cameras will be controlled by police officers from a dedicated control room.

"The contro room will be set up at the Mini Secretariat and manned round the clock. Not only will it enable us to keep an eye on anti-social e lements, but we are hopefu that it will bring down the crime rate considerably Also we can monitor the traf fic movement," said a police official. While 11 CCTV cameras will be installed at Rajeev Chowk, seven will be at Iffco Chowk, five each at Signa ture Towers crossing, Jharsa Chowk and Jail Chowk.

Eleven cameras will also be in stalled at various locations in Sadar Bazar and one at Agrasen Chowk, three at post office chowk, four at Sohna Chowk, five at Min Secretariat and four at Sector 31 crossing.