A recent safety audit by the Public Works Department (PWD) has revealed that more than 7,500 CCTV cameras across Delhi were offline. The audit highlights challenges faced by the city’s surveillance network launched in 2020 to bolster safety.
Presently, around 2.8 lakh cameras have been installed throughout the city, in collaboration with resident welfare and market associations. However, the network has encountered several hurdles, such as power cuts, technical faults, theft, and vandalism, as per a report submitted by the government in the Delhi Assembly.
Despite these issues, the Delhi government intends to enhance security by installing an additional 50,000 CCTV cameras, alongside prioritizing maintenance. Reports reveal that maintenance has been outsourced to Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL), and future strategies involve issuing consolidated tenders for improved upkeep.