You may have heard of CCTV surveillance in homes, offices or even a market place. But now it is time for an entire locality to come under surveillance.

In a unique initiative launched on Wednesday, a citizen’s forum in Alipore – a posh area inhabited predominantly by industrialists in Kolkata – has initiated the installation of surveillance cameras and security systems through out the locality.

Number plate detection

Police will be able to monitor all movements in the localities through pre-installed TV monitors at the local police station. Two big and four small monitors have been installed in the control room of the local police station. Around 16 visuals can be seen at one time.

The Rs 5-crore project, involves the installation of 150 high-end cameras, which allow full 360-degree view of streets and localities. It also involves specialised zoom-in facilities that allow police to note down number plates of speeding vehicles. Intrusion and trespassing too can be detected through the system. So far 116 cameras have been installed.

For instance, if there is any security breach at the residences, a device would send an SMS alert along with the footage of the incident to the home owner as well as the local police station. Appropriate smart devices have also been provided to the police.

Apart from security threats and illegal activities, obtaining information about available civic amenities in the locality can also be monitored. Similar monitors have also been installed at the local office of the city civic body.

According to Surajit Kar Purakayastha, City Police Commissioner, the system is a “modernised version of resistance group in villages” that are set up to protect villagers from dacoity.

“Significant clips have already been obtained from these cameras. We are working on an Intelligence Surveillance System project under which around 400 cameras would be installed in several locations in the city,” Prakayastha said on the launch of the project.

Reliance Security Solutions, a Reliance Industries Ltd subsidiary, have conceived and executed the project on behalf of the citizen’s forum.

Preventing abduction

According to the State Urban Development Minister, Firhad Hakim, some of the high profile abduction cases have taken place in the area. “We have been trying to get a strong security solution in plac and are looking to install similar surveillance system across southern Kolkata,” Hakim said.

>abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

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