CHENNAI: After much delay, the Chennai division of Southern Railway is finally set to begin the installation of CCTV cameras in 13 stations in the MRTS section and 13 stations along the Chennai Beach - Tambaram section. A total of 528 surveillance cameras will be installed across 26 stations at a cost of `9.79 crore, which will be funded through the Nirbhaya fund.
Work orders have been recently issued. “Wiring and infrastructure work in suburban stations have been completed and fitting of cameras will begin in a few days,” a railway official said. MRTS stations have a limited number of CCTV cameras due to which a large portion of the stations is not fully covered. “All stations from Chennai Fort to Velachery in the MRTS section will now be fully covered. This will bring every nook and corner under observation,” a railway police officer said.
A total of 14 out of 16 MRTS stations between Chennai Beach and Velachery wear a desolate look owing to inadequate lighting. These stations are two-storey structures situated mainly in isolated areas along Kamarajar Salai and the IT corridor. Several stations also lack proper access roads. While ticket counters are located on the ground floor, platforms are on the second floor.
Frequent incidents of mobile snatching are reported at stations such as Taramani, Perungudi, Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery. Cameras will be installed in Chintadripet, Chennai Fort, Chepauk, Tiruvallikeni, Light House, Mandaveli, Greenways Road, Kasthuribai Nagar, Indira Nagar, Taramani, Thiruvanmiyur, Perungudi and Velachery stations in MRTS section.
Similarly, 13 stations in Chennai - Chengalpattu section - Chennai Park, Park Town, Chetpet, Kodambakkam, Saidapet, Kotturpuram, Guindy, Minambakkam, Tirusulam, Pallavaram, Chrompet, Tambaram Sanitorium and Melmaruvathur will also be brought under surveillance.
Tenders have been floated for installing 50 cameras in Chennai - Arakkonam and Chennai - Gummidipundi sections under phase II, sources said. It may be recalled that a 24-year-old woman techie was murdered in broad daylight at the busy Nungambakkam station on June 24, 2016. However, police faced difficulties in identifying the murderer owing to the lack of CCTV coverage.