City to get more 'eyes'; 2,750 CCTV cameras in place by Dec

The state government has decided to increase the CCTV surveillance in Bengaluru in order to maintain law and order in the city. The number of CCTV cameras might touch 2,750 by end of this year.

Inaugurating the Gurappananpalya police station on Sunday Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, "The state government has decided to allot Rs 10 lakh to each ward exclusively to install CCTV cameras at strategic locations.''

These cameras will be connected to jurisdictional police stations and linked to Command Centre in city police commissioner's office and monitored 24/7. CCTV cameras help police gather clinching evidence during investigations and deter people from taking to a life of crime, the minister said.

Reddy said, "At present there are 675 CCTV cameras at traffic signals, 650 cameras installed at major roads and areas apart from 5 lakh private cameras across the city."

Reacting to Opposition party leaders' remarks that Bengaluru is not safe for women and children, Reddy said, "Bengaluru is the safest city for women and children when compared to other cities in the state. The government has directed police officers to handle cases related to women and children more sensitively."

'Book for defective plates'

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy has issued orders directing traffic police and the RTO to conduct a drive and book cases against people using defective number plates.

He stated in the order that due to defective number plates police are unable to trace violators. He also expressed concern about noise and air pollution in the city. He directed officials to seize vehicles with shrill horns and start a drive on checking emission of the each vehicle in the city.