This story is from June 26, 2019

Safe Aurangabad? Only four of 48 CCTV cameras functional

The much ado over having a digital eye on the city streets has come to nothing. It has come to light that only three or four of the 48 closed circuit television cameras installed under the Safe City Project are functional for past several days over non-payment of maintenance charges.
Safe Aurangabad? Only four of 48 CCTV cameras functional
The cameras’ control room at the police commissionerate
AURANGABAD: The much ado over having a digital eye on the city streets has come to nothing.
It has come to light that only three or four of the 48 closed circuit television cameras installed under the Safe City Project are functional for past several days over non-payment of maintenance charges. The Aurangabad city police are struggling to detect several property offences and street crimes.
These cameras, attached to a control room at the city police commissionerate, were installed over four years back.
The cameras helped the police detect over 200 cases since installation. But with these CCTV cameras defunct, even the teams deployed at the control room are sitting idle.
Aurangabad commissioner of police Chiranjeev Prasad said, "It is true that several of our CCTV cameras are defunct for some time. We are taking a follow-up and are hopeful of getting them repaired at the earliest."
Aurangabad city with its history of riots, communal violence and terror-related incidents has always been one of the most sensitive places in the state. In addition to this, it is the tourism capital of Maharashtra and the regional hub of medical, educational, administrative and industrial centres. It witnesses frequent movement of VVIPs from different parts of the country, as well as abroad.
Police officials are dubbing the defunct CCTVs as a compromise on the city's overall safety and security. The 48 cameras have been installed at important crossroads, covering key areas with important installations and high
footfall.
Police officials claimed that the third-party entrusted with the maintenance of the cameras has stopped looking at the upkeep over non-payment of dues. City police claimed they were pursuing the matter with the civic body, which is entrusted with the maintenance of the cameras.
Many civic officials refused to speak on the issue, while civic body chief Nipun Vinayak could not be reached for his comments. When contacted, mayor Nandkumar Ghodele told TOI, "This is a serious issue. So far, no one has brought it to my notice. I will definitely look in to it and take efforts to resolve the matter."
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