CCTVs to be set up in Mumbai by January

MUMBAI: Seven global consortium's have been selected through expression of interest for setting up the CCTV project in the metropolis by January next year, a senior officer said here.

The project was started after the terrorists struck the financial capital three years ago.

Request For Proposal (RFP) will be given to these agencies soon. A five member committee of experts has been set up to decide on the RFP standards, Additional Chief Secretary (Home)U C Sarangi said here yesterday.

"The standards will be decided as per the technicalities specifications, design of the camera, connectivity, control of the equipment," he added.

Sarangi said the agency will be selected as per the decided RFP standards by December end. "It is expected that the work will start in January next year," he added.

About 5,000 CCTVs will be set up at 1,200 locations and will be monitored through remote and cable connectivity.

Sarangi said crime prone, crowded, business districts, chowks, main roads, arterial roads are the locations which will be selected. He said five control rooms will be set up and the footage will be shared among the police stations in the city.

"A central incident command and control centre will come up at the new police commissionerate in South Mumbai or at Worli in Central Mumbai," he informed.

The government also plans to make it mandatory for railways and airports to share footage from their CCTVs, he said.

Besides, amendments to existing laws will be needed to make CCTV evidence acceptable for conviction in courts, Sarangi said, adding the system of image identification will be needed to set up in the CCTV units.