The Delhi government has drawn up a comprehensive plan for a 24x7 CCTV surveillance system costing around Rs 646 crore to eradicate dark spots and ensure women's safety. Currently, over 2.5 lakh CCTV cameras are installed and maintained by the Public Works Department. The BJP government plans to add 50,000 more cameras.
The Delhi government has outlined a new CCTV project to bolster women's safety in the city. Pegged at Rs 646.41 crore, the initiative includes costs for third-party quality assurance, contingencies, and cess charges. It encompasses 49,900 IP bullet CCTV cameras equipped with 512 GB SD cards, as per a list from the Women and Child Development department and Delhi Police. Additionally, 100 4-megapixel Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with infrared vision for night visibility up to 100 meters will be installed at dark spots in consultation with Delhi Police.
The Public Works Department (PWD) plans to develop a Command Control Centre at the MSO building in ITO, though the location will be finalized by Delhi Police. A senior official stated, “The location, however, will be finalised by the Delhi Police. If they suggest any other suitable location, the PWD will consider it.” Delhi Police will gain direct access to the centre, fitted with four dashboards, incident modules, a network management server, recording servers, ANPR servers, and more.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta allocated Rs 100 crore for CCTV installation in last year's budget presentation. Maintenance estimates for the next five years include Rs 50 crore in the current financial year, Rs 300 crore in 2026-27, Rs 93.84 crore in 2027-28, and Rs 50.65 crore annually thereafter. Cameras will be protected by cages mounted on poles. In areas without electricity, 5,000 solar panels with lithium-ion batteries offering 14 hours of backup will power them. Over 12,100 UPS units with 30-minute backups and 17,100 outdoor pole-mountable racks for equipment will also be deployed.
