After successfully using them for keeping a watch during Durga Puja earlier this year, Ranchi police is now planning to use Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras for crime control and policing on permanent basis.
To begin the project, cameras will be installed at three major junctions in the city, namely Albert Ekka Chowk, Argora Chowk and Kutchery Chowk, in the first week of 2016 and will be later taken to rest of the city. Control rooms for cameras covering the first two roundabouts will be set up in police posts located there, whereas the same for the last one will be put up in City Control Room.
Apart from the roundabouts, apartment buildings, old and new, will be also be equipped with set of four CCTV cameras, with one placed at the entrance facing the structure, one covering the backside, one over the parking space and one on the stairwell.
“Recently, there have been certain incidents where vehicles were stolen from within the premises of an apartment. Putting up CCTV cameras will be effective in putting an end to these cases as well as other crimes. This will also make the guards deputed here more accountable regarding their duties and provide an added layer of security to the residents,” Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said.
“Officials from Ranchi police are being trained for monitoring the feed recorded in the CCTV cameras, which will be continuously monitored. In case a criminal activity comes to our notice, the culprits will be followed and apprehended using this footage,” stated Superintendent of Police (City) Jaya Roy.
The feed recorded by the cameras will be transmitted across the city, if needed, via a network of optical fibre cables used for broadband connectivity. For this, Ranchi police has roped in two cable TV and broadband service providers operating in the city – Manthan and GTPl – who have consented to allow the cables to be utilised in the project.
“We are prepared to offer our broadband cables for connecting CCTV cameras in areas pinpointed by city police. As of now, they are surveying and have suggested some crucial points in the city for extending the project to. Additionally, we already identified have some areas where we can support them in this regard,” stated GTPl Jharkhand Branch Director Alok Kumar.
Adding to this will be the CCTV cameras installed in business establishments along the main artery of the city from Albert Ekka Chowk to Over Bridge looking over the street ahead. “Almost 80 per cent shops in Main Road have got CCTV cameras. But the footage they record is seldom demanded by the police while investigating a criminal case.