As Vizag turns into a smart city, cops are chalking out a security action plan to bring the Port City under the surveillance radar. According to sources, the preparation for the action plan has started and it would be completed in a couple of weeks. Cops have already instructed cyber cafes, hospitals and business establishments to set up CCTV cameras. “Around 40% of the city is already under surveillance with the help of cameras. We wish to ensure more than 80% of the city is covered through surveillance cameras. We have been in touch with various welfare associations of different colonies on the outskirts where vigilance was not up to the expected levels,” city police chief Amit Garg said.
Sources said that if necessary, special teams would also be formed for dedicated security duties. At present, the city has 128 surveillance cameras at 47 junctions, set up under the first phase. Cops would set up another 130 cameras in the next phase at another 47 junctions to bring the entire city under the surveillance radar.
Cops are now focussing on the security aspect and also monitoring traffic at various places in the city through the command control centre at the police commissionerate, which is presently located at the Police Barracks. A video wall with 130 monitors displaying the CCTV footage at various junctions will be set up in the next 10 days at the new commissionerate building which is under construction, a senior police officer said. The new command control centre is set to start functioning within a week at the new commissionerate building.
