Aftermath of Shipra Malik case: Noida speeds up city surveillance project

NOIDA: In the wake of Shipra Malik case, Noida Police has decided to speed up the city surveillance project. The Noida Authority chairman has directed his subordinates to commission the project within six months.

Noida Authority chairman and CEO Rama Raman recently chaired a meeting and reviewed the project.

Talking to TOI, Rama Raman said that Noida is a world class city boasting a world class infrastructure, and is set to introduce integrated security surveillance system which will take the city to another level.

He said the integrated security surveillance system is demand of time. “We are hopeful to deliver the project soon. This project will help the city police in controlling crime and traffic management,” he added.

Raman said Noida’s 20 sq km area from the border with east Delhi to Sector 32 includes the city’s prime locations such as Sector 18 and upscale residential areas. “Soon we will float the tender and after selection work will start on the project. We are expecting to cover maximum area of Noida by the end of this year,” Raman said.

Raman added the project will be carried out in three phases. In the first phase, CCTV cameras would be installed at the two entry points to Noida, one from Delhi and the other from Ghaziabad; in the second phase, cameras would be installed along the 20sqkm route; and the third phase involves installation near government offices, hospitals, malls and traffic junctions.

“A control room is being set up near Mahamaya flyover, from where officials would monitor the areas under CCTV surveillance. The aim of the project is to provide a secure environment in Noida for the residents as well as for the businesses,” he added.

“Hundreds of closed-circuit television cameras will be stationed at strategic points. These cameras will be of three types—fixed or still, pan tilt zoom (PTZ) and automated number plate recognition(ANPR)—and will be used to monitor roads and establishments. While still and PTZ cameras will be fixed near government institutions, commercial establishments and public places, ANPR cameras will be used on city roads,” Raman further said.

It is pertinent to mention that in Shipra Malik case, police had to struggle a lot in the dearth of CCTV footage. The police could not link the chain as it did not have all the CCTV footage in and around her home. During investigation, the police also found at DND flyway two CCTVs were not functioning.

“City surveillance project will help us a lot. Our team found difficulties in the absence of proper CCTV footages, this further led to delay in working out the case. If we would have city surveillance in place, I believe, we could crack the case within a day or two” said Noida superintendent of police Dinesh Yadav.