DELHI CABINET GIVES NOD TO CCTV CAMERA PROJECT
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Cabinet on Friday approved the Public Works Department (PWD) proposal for granting administrative approval and expenditure sanction for installation of CCTV Cameras in the Capital, as recommended by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).
“The PWD proposal requested the Council of Ministers to approve the EFC recommendations and accord administrative approval and expenditure sanction for the project of supplying, installation, testing and commissioning of CCTV cameras and other allied infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 571.4 crore,” a Delhi government official said.
“The estimated break up of the project is capital cost of Rs 320.96 plus maintenance cost of Rs 250.44 crore for a period of five years,” the official added.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, announced the approval during his speech in the Assembly on Friday. “The Cabinet has approved the camera installation across the city. The people of Delhi were facing trouble as crime has risen in Delhi,” he said.
Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government had constituted a committee to finalise the CCTV project’s specifications, rate of contract, annual maintenance contract (AMC), standard operating procedure (SOP) and finalisation of the request for proposal (RFP).
The rate of the contract was approved by Delhi Work Advisory Board, whereby six agencies were impaneled for the supply of CCTV cameras. \
“This Rate Contract could not be implemented due to receipt of a complaint,” said an official.
Last month, the Delhi government had sought suggestions from Delhi residents on the matter during a meeting.
“The heavy presence of women shows the extent of concern they have about their safety. It also shows their faith on CCTVS. The kind of harassment women face in market areas show that marketplaces are not safe. We have been trying for the last three years to install cameras. But, you can see how the BJP and LG are stopping us from installing CCTV cameras,” the CM had told residents at the meeting.
Moreover, a report from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal reportedly stated that police license was necessary for installing the CCTV cameras.
“They cannot even do proper policing and talk about the license. What is the meaning of license? It is another mean to earn money. Police will decide whether you need CCTV or not. Who will decide? People or the LG, police or BJP? People will decide. This is the democracy,” Kejriwal had said at the meeting.