KOCHI: The Police Department has decided to revamp the existing camera surveillance system in Kochi, which is facing shortage of surveillance cameras for detecting crimes, with the help of the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keltron).
The decision was taken following a high-level meeting between the Police Department and Keltron in Thiruvananthapuram two days ago. As many as 100 new state-of-the-art cameras will be installed in the city in the near future.
The project, known as the ‘City Surveillance and Traffic Monitoring System’, was initiated in 2008 by the State Government with the assistance of the Kerala Police. The execution of project was entrusted to Keltron.
However, the project hit a roadblock, owing to certain issues related to the renewal of the annual maintenance contract (AMC). Keltron managing director C Prasannakumar told ‘Express’ that two days ago a meeting was convened with police officials in Thiruvananthapuram for taking a final decision on the matter. “At the meeting, it was decided to completely revamp the existing surveillance system in Kochi. We proposed to the Police Department to renew the annual maintenance contract. However, the revamp of the system does not have anything to do with the renewal of the contract, which will be signed on another occasion,” he said. As per Intelligence Bureau reports, Kochi has became one of the possible targets in South India for the ISI.
This was one of the major concerns that prompted the City Police to implement the security arrangements. Nearly half of the surveillance cameras, one of the primary components of the security system in city, have been dysfunctional for a long time due to damage.
Of the 50-odd cameras, more than twenty have either been damaged, or dismounted to facilitate the construction of the Metro Rail.
Decision Welcomed
Welcoming the decision, Kochi police control room assistant commissioner T S Joseph told ‘Express’ that the issues between Keltron and the Police Department with regard to the AMC would be resolved soon.
City Police Commissioner K G James said that it was a stupendous effort by the City Police - sending frequent requests to the police headquarters and Keltron to make the project a reality.
“This new facility will not only prevent anti-social and criminal activities in the city, but also will ease the security threat”, he said.
Earlier, ‘Express’ had reported about the apathetic attitude of the authorities and the blame-game between Keltron and the Police Department with regard to the renewal of the AMC to repair the damaged surveillance cameras.