BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to strengthen traffic surveillance in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Commissionerate Police has urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to install CCTV cameras at every 200 metres in both the cities.
Officials said it is part of a high-density surveillance strategy for highway safety, urban monitoring and perimeter security to eliminate blind spots. Currently, NHAI has installed CCTVs at intervals of approximately 2 km to monitor vehicular movement and detect violations on the highways.
“However, it has been observed that detecting hit-and-run cases on the highway between Pitapalli and Tangi, which is under the jurisdiction of Commissionerate Police, is quite difficult as the CCTV cameras are installed at every 2 km and each has a range of about 50 metre,” said a senior police official. He noted that CCTV cameras at every 200 metre will help the police in preventing road accidents and initiating action against the offenders.
As per Odisha Police, road accidents claimed the lives of 6,483 people in the state in 2025, marking a 5.6 per cent increase from 6,142 deaths reported in 2024. The number of accidents rose by 3.3 pc, from 12,375 to 12,782 during the period.
Police have also requested the NHAI to equip CCTV cameras with public address (PA) systems to integrate surveillance with real-time audio deterrence. These systems commonly use IP-based cameras with built-in speakers, allowing security personnel to deliver public messages.
Citing the recent mishap in which a moving truck burst into flames on the Palasuni overbridge (NH-16) in Bhubaneswar, causing a massive and hours-long traffic gridlock stretching over 14 km, the police officer said CCTV cameras with PA systems can be utilised during such situations to issue realtime advisory to the commuters travelling on the NH.
Commissionerate Police has also urged the NHAI to integrate its cameras on the stretch between Pitapalli and Tangi with Traffic police’s command centre in the city. As of now, NHAI has only 28 pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras from Tangi to Baramunda, said sources.
“We have received the request from the Commissionerate Police to install CCTV cameras at every 200 metre. The CCTV cameras are already in place as per our existing policy. However, the police proposal has been sent to the higher authorities for approval,” said NHAI project director (Bhubaneswar circle), Suraj Singh.
In another development, police have started playing soothing and relaxing music at 32 traffic posts across the city in a bid to relieve commuters of stress while they wait at traffic signals amid the sweltering conditions.