Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched the ambitious first-phase closed circuit TV (CCTV)-based city surveillance system in the capital city for effective law and order management, crime control, better traffic regulation and control and surveillance over criminals. Considering the immense potential of this system, the Chief Minister, after launching the service at the Commissionerate police headquarters, hoped that the Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, the agency assigned to carry out the project, would complete the second and third phases of the project at the earliest.
“This will go a long way in ensuring safety of the citizens in view of the intelligence inputs of possible terror attacks in the State,” said the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister also asked the Commissionerate police to equip the CCTV control room with well-trained operators having the ability to critically analyse the complex environment before them and make prompt and judicious interventions to prevent commission of crimes.
In the first phase of the project, a total of 114 CCTV cameras has been installed at about 28 strategic locations in the city including major junction like AG crossing, Master Canteen square, Rajmahal crossing, lower PMG, Kalinga hospital square, Airport crossing, Governor house,Naveen Niwas and near Rabindra Mandap.
Meanwhile, monitoring screens have been installed at the offices of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and the Traffic DCP. The footages collected from the cameras would be received at these places for analysis, sources added. Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner of Police Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma said, “The CCTV surveillance system will help police control crime and conduct investigations. It will also help the cops improve their response to crisis situations. Besides, it will help enhance traffic regulation mechanism in the city.”