Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Feb 26: Traffic police of the city installed 93 CCTV cameras at main traffic junctions and public places a few years ago. Now only five of them are functioning properly.

This matter came to light when police themselves checked this matter recently. This issue has taken place as there is no annual maintenance of these cameras. Police have taken this issue seriously and the commissionerate has written a letter to the respective contractor.

Representational image

The pictures captured by the cameras which are not functioning properly are unclear during the daytime. During the night they are not able to capture any pictures at all. In addition, some CCTV cameras which were removed for road and footpath development work, are not reinstalled.

During the footpath work of Ladyhill and Lalbagh junctions CCTV cameras were removed. The re-installation of the CCTV camera of Ladyhill is being done now. Locals also have removed 18 receivers of cameras that were installed on private properties. This also has caused problems for the traffic police department.

Now 15 ultra-modern quality CCTV cameras are being installed at 15 junctions in the city under the Smart City project. One is already installed at Kadri-Mallikatte junction. Work on installing a CCTV camera at Ladyhill junction is in progress. The remaining cameras will be fixed at Padil, Pumpwell, Morgansgate, Rao and Rao Circle, Padavinangady, Kavoor, Kottara Chowki, Lalbagh, Marnamikatte, neat St Agnes College, Kankanady, Bendore and Kadri Circuit House.

Vinay Gaonkar, DCP said, "A letter is written to AMC Contractor of CC cameras. In addition, under the Smart City project, a separate budget is kept aside for fixing CCTV cameras and signal lights. A report was submitted to the Smart City organization to install 900 CCTV cameras in the city."

Due to the non-functioning of 88 CCTV cameras, police have to depend on CCTV cameras of private individuals. Last year, the delay in apprehending the culprits of wall graffiti writers at Bejai and Court Road was due to the non-functioning of the cameras. The pictures of the crime that were recorded on the private cameras of nearby residents of the spot of crime helped the police to crack the case.