Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System being delayed

The implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) is being delayed in Uttarakhand as well as elsewhere in the country, thus blocking things to a revolutionary transformation of policing. The project- a Central Government initiative-was conceived in 2009 and was slated to be completed in 2012. The Centre later extended the deadline, given the time-consuming nature of the works to be undertaken. At the same time, it insisted on the project be completed at the earliest. However, Uttarakhand has done well, much ahead of other states, in terms of implementing the project, it is learnt. The state police department is hopeful that CCTNS would become a reality by the end of this year.

It should be mentioned here that CCTNS Project was approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on June 19, 2009. The first regional workshop of CCTNS nodal officers from seven states- Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh was held on October 14, the same year in lucknow to assess the progress of CCTNS in the states. 

The State additional director general of police (administration) Ram Singh Meena while talking to The Pioneer on Friday said that that following the state government's notification on setting up 24 new police stations, a proposal seeking money for implementing CCTNS project in these police stations has been sent to the Central Government.

The system is meant to improve connectivity and enhance crime fighting capabilities of the police by facilitating collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, transfer and sharing of data by the police in the country, he added.Out of around 16 crores required for completing the project, the police department has received around 10 crores from the Central Government, Meena added. However, there is no crunch of funds regarding implementation of this scheme, he averred.

Another police officer said that the digitisation of data in around 170 police stations and offices of senior police officers have been completed. Following shortcomings found in software named CAS (core application software) -3.0, a new software CAS- 4.0 has been received from the Central Government. The officers are working on this software, the official said.

 According to him, three computers, one camera, electronic pan, power generator and two printers have been given to all the police stations under CCTNS project. A training centre has been set up at each of the districts and 15 computers in big districts and seven in small districts have been installed under CTNS project.

The FIR and other relevant information like case dairy, general diary and other diaries are being uploaded by the police officers concerned in CAS-4.0 in their police stations.Around 2500 police personnel were given basic training about the computer, internet and their role based training. The data centres and data recovery centres of the state have been established in Delhi and Pune respectively.Around 10 years' record of police department is being digitised and for this,  a system integrator NIIT limited has been given deadline to complete  all the assigned works.