State government approves INR 2,000 crore fund to set up modern CCTV system in Mumbai

The state government has approved a fund of INR 2,000 crore to upgrade the CCTV system in Mumbai and install new CCTV cameras at important locations including the coastal road.

A system will be built using artificial intelligence to assist law and order, traffic, and municipal corporations, and video analytics technology will be used in it. Facial recognition systems will be made available even in crowded places and outside CCTV areas.

A program to install CCTV systems has been underway in Mumbai since 2018, and during the tenure of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, revised administrative approval was given with a funding of about INR 980 crore. Now, CCTV Phase III has been approved and a fund of INR 2,141 crore has been provided for it. It was planned to install 11,377 cameras in both the phases of CCTV installation in the city.

Out of which, 5442 cameras have been installed in the first phase and 5069 out of 5935 cameras have been installed by L&T Company in the second phase. The remaining 866 cameras from the second phase will now be installed at important locations in the third phase. Modern technology will be used to identify a person's face in crowded places. RLVD (Red Light Violation Detection) and automatic speed determination systems will be installed for traffic control.

The third phase includes updating the control room, including public information systems regarding traffic regulation and parking, drone assistance during processions, meetings and other crowded occasions, etc.

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Security arrangements will be strengthened. Mumbai is prone to terrorist attacks or bomb threats, criminal activities, drug trafficking, etc. Therefore, the government and police have prioritised further upgrading CCTV systems to prevent criminal activities and track down criminals, as well as maintain law and order and regulate traffic. This system is also used to monitor the situation during natural disasters. Maratha community leader Manoj Jarange recently held a protest in Mumbai. CCTV systems are being used effectively by the police to maintain law and order during major protests, festivals, processions, political rallies, etc.