Terror Attacks: Entire Bangalore to be Under 24x7 Surveillance
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Sep 17: Waking up after the recent terrorist attack in Delhi High Court premises and the series of terror attacks in several other cities previously, Karnataka is firming up plans to bring the entire Bangalore City under 24x7 surveillance system for effective monitoring and to curb crimes, particularly in densely populated locations.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the round-the-clock surveillance centre set up in Vidhana Soudha on Saturday, Home and Transport Minister R Ashok said the Government was planning to install CCTV cameras in all parts of the city and high resolution night cameras in the wake of terror strikes in Mumbai and New Delhi.
The Government would be submitting a comprehensive proposal to the Centre shortly, he said disclosing that the Centre has promised to fund the project by providing Rs 500 crore.
Similar surveillance system would be installed in Mysore, Hubli and Belgaum, he said.
The surveillance system, when it becomes operational would help the police to keep a watch on crimes, track criminals, traffic violations and other incidents, he said.
CCTV cameras would be installed in thickly populated areas of Bangalore such as City Market and bus and railway stations. CCTVs would also be installed at the High Court to scale up the security measures there as per the advise by the Centre.
CCTVs at lower courts would be installed at later stages, he said asserting that the Government was getting itself fully geared to meet any possible terror threats.
The Minister said the police have instructed the owners of malls, IT companies, hotels, jewellery shops and banks to set up CCTV cameras in their establishments.
Asked about the blasts at the near the Chinnaswamy Cricket stadium in the city on April 17, 2010, the Minister said the police have furnished information on the culprits responsible for the low intensity bomb blasts, in which five persons were injured, to the Centre.
On account of security reasons details and findings of the investigation cannot be disclosed to the press, he said.
Recently Union Home Minister P Chidambaram stated that that Bangalore police were yet to crack bomb blast that occurred at the cricket stadium last year.
Earlier, the Minister inspected the surveillance centre set up at the state secretariat and reviewed its functioning.
The police have installed high resolution cameras atop the Vidhana Soudha, which maintains constant vigil around the secretariat building, including Raj Bhavan, Vikas Soudha, Legislators’ Home, High Court and other places.
Tax on Car Owners for Parking on Roads
Ashok, who is holding the Transport portfolio, said the Intelligence Transport System implemented under the Sustainable Urban Transport Project with the funding of the Centre is being launched at Mysore on Wednesday.
The system enables the transport authorities to track the movement of buses, he said.
He said the State Government is planning to levy taxes on car owners who are parking their vehicles on roads outside their houses.
Ashok said the Government would assign the task of collecting the parking fee from car owners to the Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
There was a plan to impose Rs 50 park fee per month to all those who use the corporation built roads for parking vehicles in front of their houses. The move would discourage those from owning four wheelers without parking facility in houses, he added.