TIRUCHY: The state government in its interim budget on Tuesday announced a comprehensive CCTV surveillance project for five cities, including Tiruchy, at a cost of Rs 75 crore to strengthen safety of women and curb crimes. Speaking to TNIE, a city police official said, “Only the announcement has been made today. Once funds allocation is finalized, we will plan to expand surveillance. Our focus will be on crime-prone zones, accident-prone areas, schools, colleges, and public gathering spaces. We will also replace outdated cameras, which will improve overall monitoring and ensure a timely response to incidents.”
According to sources, Tiruchy city has a total of 14 police stations. About 1,145 CCTV cameras, including more than 20 Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) units and 30 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed. Around 800 of these cameras are maintained by private firms, while the remaining are installed and managed by the police and sponsors. These cameras help police respond actively to incidents and identify suspects. However, some of these cameras are outdated in terms of technology.
The rising incidents of chain snatching, theft, and road accidents have prompted residents and social activists to demand additional CCTV coverage at key locations in the city. “The upgraded system will strengthen the city’s overall security framework, enable real-time monitoring, allow quick response to emergencies, and facilitate effective crowd management during festivals and public events. Once fully operational, it will integrate with existing traffic and policing systems, enabling better coordination between authorities and enhancing public confidence in law enforcement,” the police officer said.
SR Kishore Kumar, a city-based advocate, said, “Most of the time, police rely on private cameras, but most of these are non-functional. As a result, it becomes difficult to identify faces and trace vehicles, and criminals cannot be properly identified. Through the new project, police should install and maintain cameras at all key areas.”