In spite of the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government continues to be indecisive about installing a network of 5,000 CCTV cameras across the city.
There is no clarity as to when the network of video surveillance would be finally deployed. The Ram Pradhan Committee, formed after the 26/11 terror attacks, had recommended a network of CCTV cameras to be installed across Mumbai.
The State government wants to install latest CCTV cameras, which have 180 degree rotation and zoom lens. The footage would be stored for a specific period in a digital vault.
‘No decision yet'
The Chief Minister, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, addressing the media after a Cabinet meeting merely said that a high-powered committee has been constituted for deploying the network but it has not taken a final decision as to when it would be deployed.
Consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been appointed as a project management consultant and they have advised that an expression on interest can be called for setting up the camera network, he said.
When questioned by the media about the previous track record of PwC in advising the Maharashtra government on such a sensitive issue, Mr Chavan was non-committal. He said that there are significant lessons to be learnt from the way the Common Wealth Games were handled in New Delhi.