KP to use Nirbhaya funds to increase CCTV count to 10k

Kolkata: The cops are set to increase its CCTV count to approximately 10,000, with the city poised to receive an additional 6,700 CCTV cameras and 50 ANPR cameras under the Nirbhaya project-II at a cost of Rs 58.2 crore.The expansion has been pegged as the biggest CCTV project under the city police jurisdiction, as Kolkata Police currently has around 3,000 cameras. "The target is to install at least one CCTV camera for every square kilometre, covering important crossings and spots," an officer from community policing said.
Even as Kolkata Police prepares to launch the second phase of its Safer City project using the Nirbhaya funds, it has decided to ensure that at least 1,000 hi-tech cameras already installed under the Nirbhaya Phase-I scheme remained in working condition, including some necessary upgrades.In this regard, Kolkata Police invited an e-tender to engage an agency for a three-year comprehensive annual maintenance contract (AMC) for surveillance and network infrastructure, with an estimated cost of Rs 9,54,71,049.Among the equipment listed for coverage under the AMC were 960 units of 8 MP varifocal motorised bullet IP cameras. The tender also included 20 units of 2 MP PTZ cameras and 20 units of the special dual-lens people-counting cameras that could be deployed in major commercial zones, protest sites or festival spots.The document further specified that the agency receiving the contract needed to maintain 1,050 units of 128 GB micro SD cards. Infrastructure items included 160 customised camera mounting poles with lightning arresters. The tender also listed ANPR camera mounting poles of 9 metres with 5-metre arms at both ends.