The operation of the CCTV network system in Faridabad is likely to be outsourced soon. The Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), which is working on the project of setting up over 1000 cameras here, has reportedly finalised the plan to hand over the operation of the system to a private firm.
According to sources, the move is aimed at strengthening the surveillance security system, and the operation, which includes the handling and maintenance, will be done by the agency selected for the purpose. The plan is likely to be implemented by the end of March.
While 1,150 cameras had been installed under the Smart City drive launched in the city nearly eight years ago, around 40 per cent of these have become defunct or been unused due to several reasons.
Sources say though all CCTVs were reported to be connected with the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) set up in Sector 20 for monitoring the traffic movement, the unavailability of the feed from the cameras lying non-functional has not only led to problems in monitoring the traffic system but also keeping a tab on the movement of anti-social individuals in some parts.
While the FMDA project, costing Rs 60 crore to enhance the CCTV coverage by almost three times, was launched a year ago, the success of the project could prove instrumental in the work of maintaining law and order as many of the cameras would be equipped with a face-detection facility, said an official. He said the cameras would be mainly installed at crossings and junctions in the city, and these would be able to detect the movement of vehicles close Around 100 cameras will be AI hardware-enabled that will be able to alert officials about the movement of suspected persons.
Announcing that faulty CCTV cameras would be repaired before being handed over the agency, an FMDA official said the system had already come under the purview of the firm after the tenure of the Smart city project came to an end by March. He said the agency would have to take action within the stipulated time limit for the work so that the security system got robust and active.
The agency would also be authorised to change or replace the spots of the CCTVs as per the needs and requirements, for which a regular report would be submitted to the authorities concerned. MDA Chief Engineer Ramesh Bagri said the plan regarding the operation of the CCTV network in the city was expected to be implemented soon.
