Rs 19-cr CCTV push to plug Trichy’s surveillance gaps

Trichy: Persistent CCTV blind spots in Trichy city have slowed criminal investigations, prompting the city police to plan a Rs19-crore upgrade of its surveillance network. Recent incidents have exposed the gaps. On Mar 14, an 80-year-old pedestrian was killed by an unidentified vehicle near Trichy Government Hospital. On Mar 8, two men on a motorcycle snatched a gold chain from a 65-year-old woman in KK Nagar. In both cases, suspects could not be immediately identified due to lack of adequate camera coverage. On Feb 8, cash was stolen from a doctor's car parked near TVS Tollgate. Though CCTV footage captured suspicious movements, poor visibility and image clarity hampered progress in the case.Police said such gaps often delay investigations, forcing reliance on eyewitness accounts and limited footage, and slowing the identification and arrest of suspects. To address this, the city police are preparing to install a high-resolution CCTV network across key public areas. The project is part of a larger state initiative, with Rs75 crore allocated for surveillance systems in five major urban centres, including Trichy. A senior police official said the new system would significantly improve coverage. "Locations in Trichy where camera surveillance is currently absent will be covered to a significant extent. This expanded coverage will assist our investigations, help crack cases, and bring criminals to justice," the official said. Over the past decade, the city police have installed around 1,350 cameras at nearly 900 locations, including about 50 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at 14 points. Police also rely on cameras installed by businesses and residents in areas where official coverage is limited. Under the new project, tenders will be floated shortly, with implementation expected to begin this year. The number and type of cameras, equipment and installation details will be finalised based on the contractor's proposal, with priority given to crime-prone and high-footfall areas. Officials said around 1,500 to 2,000 cameras are likely to be installed at about 1,000 locations, covering junctions, markets, bus stops and vulnerable residential areas.Advocate S R Kishore Kumar said gaps in surveillance could embolden offenders if left unaddressed. "In this era of modern technology, it is essential to allocate adequate funds to strengthen the camera surveillance system, enhance public safety, and reduce crime rates," he said. He added, "The initiative will fail to meet its objectives if an adequate number of cameras lack advanced features such as high resolution, facial recognition, or vehicle number plate recognition. The cameras must also undergo regular periodic maintenance to ensure consistent and reliable functioning."