Nearly 7 years since 26/11 attacks, Mumbai gets first CCTV cameras as part of city surveillance network

After the Mumbai terror attacks on 26 November, 2008, the then-Maharashtra government had proposed a project to instal CCTV cameras all across to city to improve the surveillance network. Now, after around seven years and a change in government, the first step of the project has seen the light of day. The first batch of CCTV cameras will become functional from Wednesday onwards in selected areas of south Mumbai, according to a report in The Times of India.  [caption id=“attachment_2443092” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] A total of 103 cameras were installed in the first phase with 32 of these in the Girgaum Chowpatty area. In addition, the first phase is said to include 1,235 CCTV cameras covering the south Mumbai region from Navy Nagar-Colaba up to Worli-Sewri, continues the report. KP Bakshi, additional chief secretary (home) was quoted by  The Times of India as saying, “Although the time limit for Phase I is 15 November, we will finish it by October-end. Phase II will be completed by April 2016 and Phase III by October 2016. But we will try and complete it by April 2016.” Back in February this year, the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government had signed an MoU worth Rs 949 crore with engineering and construction major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for setting up CCTV-based surveillance. The government formed a high-level committee to push the project and the final deal was signed on the day the Fadnavis government completed 100 days in power. “CCTVs will guarantee safer city to its citizens. It will not only support Mumbai police to maintain law and order but will also help in improving traffic management. It will also aid in deterring, detecting and dealing with criminal activities,” CM Fadnavis had said at the signing. The complete project will be laid out in three phases and is estimated to finish by next year and will see around 6,000 CCTV cameras installed all across Mumbai. With inputs from Agencies