Bengaluru ATM heist triggers push for CCTV cameras on flyovers, underpasses

Bengaluru: The much-talked-about Rs 7.11-crore ATM cash van heist was planned meticulously to ensure that cash transfer happens on Dairy Circle flyover, since the flyover does not have CCTV surveillance.

The Bengaluru city police (BCP) had to depend on and pull out footage from various CCTV cameras before and after the flyover to identify the vehicle used for the robbery and track it down, delaying the investigation.

Of late, CCTV camera footage and mobile phone records and their locations are the first things police turn to for detecting crimes, because they are reliable and undeniable material evidence accepted by even the courts. 

In recent years, Bengaluru has emerged as a city with high density of CCTV cameras, catching up with cities like Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. While the number of cameras installed by BCP is still not very high - 7,500 hitech cameras under safe city project and 9,000 by traffic police - BCP in May this year marked a milestone of geo-tagging over five lakh private CCTV cameras to its mobile crime and criminal tracking network system (MCCTNS).

All commercial establishments should install a CCTV camera facing the road and they should be linked to MCCTNS portal as per the Karnataka Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act, 2017. 

So, it is often thought no act on the streets of Bengaluru goes unrecorded.

However, the recent ATM cash van heist has exposed the blind spots - its flyovers and underpasses.

While government agencies have not installed CCTV cameras on these stretches, most of the cameras of adjoining commercial establishments are also pointed to the street below flyovers or above underpasses. As per recent count, there are 43 flyovers, 28 underpasses in Bengaluru. There are at least five flyovers and underpasses under construction apart from plans to build 17 more. 

Following the ATM van heist, these blind spots have become a point of concern for BCP, who have now written to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), to install cameras at all flyovers and underpasses.

“We have identified all flyovers and underpasses that have turned out to be blind spots and written to the respective corporations to instal cameras at these places. We are working closely with them to ensure that CCTV coverage improves,” said city police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh.  

Focus & alignment

That apart, the police are trying to change the focus and alignment of the existing cameras to point towards the entry and exit points of flyovers and underpasses, so that they have some eyes on the ground. 

CCTV surveillance on flyovers provides a number of advantages. Apart from such robberies, many smaller crimes too can be cracked using footage from the cameras.

“On a few flyovers, there are shoulder spaces that can be used for stopping in emergency situations. However, many people, especially youngsters, stop at these points in the late night hours and there have been some instances of crimes and nuisance in such hours. Cameras will help keep a check on them,” said a senior police officer.

That apart, wheeling is rampant on flyovers and due to the absence of cameras, the police are only able to book these violators only when they are caught physically.

Given that traffic jams are being reported from flyovers, cameras will help monitor traffic congestion, said Kartik Reddy, joint commissioner (traffic). 

“Cameras will help analyse congestion levels and plan necessary alternatives. That apart, it will help us crack down on traffic violations,” Reddy said.

The footage will be of great help in case of accidents, Singh noted.

“For instance, if there is a hit and run case, cameras can help us easily crack the case,” he said. 

Singh said it also helps improve conviction rates since camera footage gives strong evidence that can be presented in court.

“Footage from CCTV cameras is strong evidence for any case. Hence, cameras will help improve conviction rate,” he said.

POLICE SEE BIG BENEFITS CCTV footage helps...

Monitor situation  Analyse traffic congestion Identify traffic violations Is strong evidence in courts