Thursday, 03 August 2023 | PURNIMA BISHT | DEHRADUN
The close circuit television (CCTV) cameras mounted by Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) are not functional in several major junctions of the city for the past several weeks affecting law enforcement and traffic management in the city. These include six junctions which are Araghar Chowk, Buddha Chowk, a junction on East Canal Road near Karnpur, Darshanlal Chowk, Kargi Chowk, and Kanak Chowk. Due to these non-working cameras, traffic management and other associated works have been severely affected in these key junctions of the city.
A senior police official said that these cameras mainly help the authorities to track offences like identifying offenders of traffic violations and road accidents besides monitoring any criminal activity that might have happened in the respective route or nearby area, especially at odd hours. The CCTV cameras installed by DSCL have not been working for a couple of months now and nothing has been done to ensure they function properly again. CCTV footage has proven to be a great tool in nabbing criminals and their regular functioning is necessary in the provision capital of the State, said the official.
Talking about the issue, the Dehradun district magistrate and chief executive officer of the Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) Sonika told The Pioneer that the functioning of some CCTV cameras was affected due to the construction works carried out by some departments in nearby areas of these junctions. On average, two to three cameras are installed in each junction and DSCL will try to ensure cameras function well as soon as possible or at least by the end of this month. This work will be carried out in association with the bodies and departments concerned that affected the cameras’ functioning.
DM also added the DSCL’s job was to install and maintain CCTVs but it is the traffic police’s responsibility to check their functioning and approach the officials concerned with the complaint to make them aware of the related issues. The DM has directed the officials concerned to resolve the issues soon by coordinating with respective departments.
