PWD minister orders removal of Chinese-origin CCTV cameras
Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Wednesday ordered the phased removal of Chinese-origin CCTV cameras installed in the national capital. This comes after the Centre banned them, citing security concerns. Delhi currently has 2,74,389 CCTV cameras installed by the PWD.
Initiating the removal process, the Delhi minister also said the cameras were installed during the tenure of the AAP and said it raised serious questions on the intent and judgement behind such decisions. Officials said the replacement will be carried out in phases to ensure no disruption in surveillance coverage while upgrading the system to meet stricter security standards.
“We have taken a decision to phase out a significant portion of the CCTV cameras installed across the city, particularly those sourced from Chinese firms, in line with recent Government directives and broader security considerations. Therefore, we will be gradually replacing cameras with updated systems that meet current technical standards, offer better data security and are supported by a robust supply and service ecosystem.
The transition will be carried out in a phased manner to avoid any disruption in surveillance coverage, which is being simultaneously rationalised,” Parvesh Sahib Singh said.
Announcing immediate corrective steps, he added, “We have approved the replacement of 50,000 Chinese cameras in the first phase. This is a clear course correction. Every Chinese camera installed earlier will be systematically replaced with secure and trusted systems.”
The minister said Delhi currently has 2,74,389 CCTV cameras installed by PWD under major phases, including 1,40,000 cameras installed in Phase 1 (September 2020 - November 2022) and 1,34,389 cameras installed in Phase 2 (June 2025 - March 2026).
Critically, all 1,40,000 cameras installed in Phase 1 were Chinese-made (Hikvision) — a company that has faced global scrutiny over security concerns, he said.
Taking a direct and sharp stance, Parvesh Sahib Singh said.
“The Aam Aadmi Party installed Chinese Hikvision cameras across Delhi without thinking about the long-term security implications. Surveillance infrastructure is not just about visibility, it is about control over sensitive data.”
He added, “This was not a routine procurement decision. When you deploy such systems across an entire city, you are making a national security choice. Unfortunately, the Aam Aadmi Party failed to recognise that.”
Drawing a clear contrast in governance approach, the minister stated, “For them, it was about numbers and publicity. For us, it is about security, accountability and protecting Delhi’s citizens without any compromise.”
Starting April 1, all internet-connected CCTV cameras sold in India will have to get a clearance from the Ministry of Electronics and Communications’ Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) framework.
As a part of the new guidelines, companies selling internet-connected CCTV cameras in India will have to disclose information regarding the key equipment used in CCTV cameras, including the origin of the system-on-chip (SoC) or the processor.
We have approved the replacement of 50,000 Chinese cameras in the first phase. This is a clear course correction. Every Chinese camera installed earlier will be systematically replaced with secure and trusted systems
— Parvesh Sahib Singh, PWD minister
