More CCTVs to watch you now

Also,the resolution of the cameras will vary depending upon the areas. For instance,CCTVs for market areas will be of a lesser resolution as compared to traffic light points and roundabouts.

UT Home Secretary Anil Kumar said,“The project will be completed in a phased ma­n­ner. Work has been assigned to various departments to appoint consultants,identify areas,purchase cameras depending on their resolution and features.”

Broadly,two types of cameras — pan tilt zoom (PTZ) and fixed position (FIX) are installed in the city. As many as 100 cameras,including PTZ and FIX,are installed on various lightpoints.

As many as 38 cameras are installed in Sector 17 and 22 markets. While 14 cameras are installed in Sector 35 and 64 market areas. CCTVs are also installed at the city border. Till August,nearly 40 per cent of the total CCTVs in the city were defective. Some were not in operation for the past three years while others were not working since their installation.

It was only after the Punjab and Hary­ana High Court,issu­ed a showcause contempt notice to Chandigarh Superintendent of Police,that the UT Administration and Police swung into action and repaired majority of the cameras.

Highlighting the ‘adverse impact’ of the defective cameras,UT IGP RP Upadhyay had requested the UT Advisor to intervene. “This is vital in public interest because crime and traffic violation detection,investigation and prosecution is a very important matter,” the IG had said.