Amritsar to Get Online Challaning System as Police Repairs CCTV Cameras
The city of Amritsar is on the path to enhancing its traffic management system, with the police starting to repair defunct CCTV cameras installed under the Smart City project. This move is expected to streamline traffic management and enable automated action against violators.
Background Information
Over 1,200 cameras had been installed at various roads and chowks in Amritsar under the Smart City project. However, the Smart City surveillance network has faced setbacks due to large-scale battery thefts and technical snags over the past two years.
Theft of Batteries and Its Impact
- More than 800 batteries worth around Rs 50 lakh have been stolen from CCTV cameras installations across Amritsar in the past two years from over 125 locations.
- The thefts have severely impacted the city's surveillance infrastructure, with nearly 200 cameras connected directly to the main power supply, bypassing battery backups.
- This has resulted in cameras becoming non-functional during power outages, disrupting round-the-clock monitoring.
Police Action Against Thieves
Last year, the Amritsar city police arrested four persons involved in stealing and illegally purchasing CCTV batteries. Acting on a complaint by the KEC International Ltd., the executing agency of the ICCC project, the police had recovered 17 batteries and seized a vehicle used in the crime at that time.
Current Status and Future Plans
Despite the police action, officials admit that surveillance gaps persist at several locations due to earlier thefts and damaged infrastructure. The authorities concerned are now focussing on repairing non-functional cameras and strengthening security to prevent further incidents.
Amandeep Kaur, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, said that online challaning would start soon as soon as the road features had been completed.
Key Quotes
Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Police Commissioner: "Restoring the surveillance network is key to ensuring effective enforcement."
Timeline
The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) project was launched under the Smart City Mission at a cost of Rs 105 crore.