Delhi City Surveillance CCTV Project
The Delhi City Surveillance CCTV project is an initiative of the Public Works Department of the Government of NCT of Delhi. Through this project, the Delhi Government intends to actively partner with the communities of Delhi to make the city safe and secure for all its residents, particularly women. Under the project, a wide network of high-resolution, night vision, full HD IP CCTV cameras with recording facilities have been installed in streets, public spaces, residential colonies and schools across the city.
The initiative has made Delhi's public spaces the best monitored in India, and one of the only cities globally where the community plays an active role in controlling their own security. Delhi government's model of CCTV deployment is unique globally, because the system is decentralised, performs automated health checks, and allows remote monitoring by the Police, PWD and RWAs/Market Associations through secure connections.
Key Objectives
The key objectives of the project are:
- To provide a safe environment for Delhi citizens, especially women and children.
- Curb the crime rate and maintain law and order in Delhi by providing adequate support to the police.
- Aid in deterring, detecting and investigating crimes.
- Attain faster turnaround time for crime resolution and proper investigation.
- Monitor suspicious people, vehicles, objects etc. to help protect life and property.
- Monitor certain public places in RWA & Market areas in Delhi and keep an eye on regular activities support.
- Support for disaster management.
Current Status
Under the first phase of the project implemented from June 2019 to November 2021, 2,75,000 cameras were installed in various areas across the city. As per an analysis undertaken by Forbes India in August 2021, Delhi has the maximum density of CCTV cameras across the world with 1826 cameras per square mile. The next three cities are London (1,138 cameras per square mile), Chennai (609 cameras per square mile) and Shenzen (520 cameras per square mile). The city of Mumbai has 157 cameras per square mile. In the second phase of the project launched in December 2021, 1,40,000 new cameras will be installed across the Capital taking the total to 4,15,000 cameras.
Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC) has played a vital role in conceptualising, designing and assisting the Public Works Department in implementing the project. DDC has also advised the Public Works Department for setting up an efficient monitoring mechanism and a complaint resolution and management system. Further, DDC drafted and recommended the Standard Operating Procedure for Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to apply for the installation of CCTVs and continues to provide coordination support to RWAs, Market Associations, MLAs, etc. for the smooth implementation of the scheme. Some of the provisions recommended by DDC include:
- Before CCTV deployment, a General Body Meeting with representatives of PWD, Police, and RWA/Market Association will meet to decide the location of the CCTVs, with a form being submitted detailing the same.
- One community member will be nominated to monitor the condition of cameras and NVR devices. AC Power supply to UPS and NVR box will be from any of the residents nearer to the unit; the camera will be powered from NVR. The monthly electricity consumption charges will be borne by the Delhi Government.
- Camera feed will only be provided to authorised users, namely Delhi Police, PWD Command Center located in PWD Headquarters at ITO, and the RWA Monitoring Room.
DDC continues to undertake extensive research to recognise new technological advancements, efficient software integration and global best practices so as to recommend future interventions for the success of the project.
