JOIN USAlready 20 colleges have installed surveillance equipment on premises
Delhi University officials are planning to install more CCTV surveillance on the campus to ensure safety of students. According to a senior official, North campus already has over 50 CCTV cameras placed at strategic locations and talks are on to install more.
“Installing CCTV cameras is our top priority. We will have a meeting on March 28 with consultants who will present their work and then other formalities like tenders will be decided. The installation process will take some time as a lot of money is involved. We have also issued an advisory to all DU colleges about putting up cameras in key places like corridors, hostels, canteens and libraries,” said Usha Rao, proctor of DU.
Safety prime concern
Rao said, about 20 of the 84 colleges in DU have already installed CCTV cameras on their premises. “Most of the prominent North and South campus colleges like St Stephens, Hindu, Hansraj, Kirori Mal, Miranda House, Sri Venkateswara, Lady Shri Ram (LSR) have CCTV cameras. The out of campus colleges have also been advised to do the same,” said a senior official.
Although students’ safety is a major concern, University officials cannot take any action against colleges that have not installed any surveillance equipment, apart from sending advisories to them.
“Colleges work as autonomous bodies, they have their own funds and they use them as they see fit. We can only advise them. However, a majority of colleges have taken it seriously and are working towards it,” said Rao.
A senior police official informed that CCTV cameras will be doubled in both campuses.
“There are over 40 cameras in South campus. Plans are to double the numbers,” the official said.
Process on
Installation of CCTV cameras at postgraduate hostels like Jubilee Hall is under process. D S Kothari Hostel has recently been fitted with 10 CCTV cameras.
The newly built Rajiv Gandhi Hostel has 17 CCTV cameras. There are plans to increase the number of the cameras in these hostels, and install them in other hostels as well, according to Rao.
Kirori Mal College has around 40 CCTV cameras, Ramjas College has 36 cameras, with night vision cameras in its hostel premises.
Hansraj College also has over 30 CCTV cameras, and similar numbers are in operation in colleges like Sri Venkateswara, LSR, Miranda House, St Stephen’s and Hindu.