Safer Mumbai: Cops to unveil new CCTV network on Gandhi Jayanti

MUMBAI: This Gandhi Jayanti, the Mumbai police’s fight against crime is poised to touch new highs.

On that day (October 2), the most expensive and elaborate security project of the city police, till date, the pan-Mumbai CCTV network, is all set to become a reality.

“From street crimes to traffic offenders, sexual offenders to chain snatchers or even the occasional straying leopards from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park — every happening in the city and the suburbs will come under our lens, live,” said a senior police officer involved in the project.

The ambitious project was conceived in the aftermath of the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks. According to the recommendations of the Ram Pradhan committee, a decision was taken to install CCTV cameras at more than 1,000 locations in the city. However, even after inviting bids in 2012 and 2013, the contract could not be awarded owing to technical reasons.

Finally in February 2015, the state government put it on track by signing a Rs949-crore deal with Larsen & Toubro for installation of 6,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the next 90 weeks (around mid-September 2016).

Meanwhile, a highly placed source in the state home department claimed the decision to make the project functional by October 2 was taken in order to avoid criticism over not meeting the deadline.