Patna police to mount surveillance via CCTVs

81 close circuit cameras to be installed at 61 places to keep an eye on suspicious activities

You will soon be under surveillance from Danapur to Patna. Patna police have decided to install 81 CCTV cameras at all important places including religious temples to keep a watch on suspicious activities.

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Recently, two CCTV cameras were installed near Patna junction and Income tax intersection to improve surveillance system and ensure smooth traffic movement. Two more cameras will shortly be installed at Dak Bungalow roundabout and Exhibition Road for the same purpose. The cameras will be functioning soon.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amrit Raj said, the police department had decided to install CCTV cameras at public places all over the city, including on important roads, bus stops, Patna high court, Indira Bhawan intersection, Tara Mandal, Harimandir Gali, Badi Patan Devi and other important spots to keep a watch on suspicious activities. "The aim is to boost surveillance to maintain law and order," he added.

The SSP said two CCTV cameras had been installed in critical areas to Patna police to ensure smooth traffic movement and arrest crime activities. Traffic SP Chandirika Prasad has been asked to monitor the control room. "This will help stop road blockades and nab erring drivers," he said.

He said, Beltron had been asked to install 81 CCTV cameras at 61 important points of the state capital. "We are still in the process of identifying key locations to install the cameras at all locations. It will be done soon. The cameras will be operational 24X 7. The number of cameras can be increased further as per requirement," he added.

He added, that the cameras were installed to make people realize that they were being effectively policed. "A main control room will be established at the police line headquarters-2 (Near SK Memorial Hall) to monitor activity in the city. The cameras will check suspicious people, purse snatching, robberies and help in check speeding and errant driving," the SSP said.

A police officer said, the decision to install CCTV's was taken at a high level meeting that was held last year after the spurt in crime incidents in the state capital. "The installation of cameras to check deviancy was effected on the directive of chief minister Nitish Kumar," said a police officer.