600 CCTV cameras functioning in 200 DTC buses, reveals RTI

NEW DELHI: In a bid to ensure women security in the Capital, the Delhi government has spent Rs 3.75 crore to install CCTV cameras in DTC buses, an RTI reply accessed by Millennium Post revealed.

The Delhi transport department has already installed 600 CCTV cameras in the 200 buses, with three in each bus. The department has also set up a different unit to monitor these footages.

"The total cost incurred for this pilot project is Rs 3.75 crore. This amount is inclusive of all taxes, duties etc, and maintenance for the period of five years," notes the reply to the RTI query.

The department plans to install cameras on all buses of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

The Delhi government has issued tender for 1,000 new cluster buses, which will mandatorily have CCTV cameras and GPS system installed.

In the first budget speech as Finance Minister of Delhi for the financial year 2015-16, Manish Sisodia had proposed installation of CCTV cameras in all DTC and cluster buses in the national Capital.

This was followed by the Delhi government's direction to the DTC to install CCTV cameras in 200 buses on a pilot basis, which was installed in buses of Sarojini Nagar and Rajghat us depots, officials said.

Each of these buses have three CCTV cameras and the 15-day data is maintained.

Meanwhile, the Transport department has initiated the process of equipping 6,350 DTC and cluster buses with CCTV cameras, by seeking to hire a consultant to help execute the project.

The department had recently urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to allow utilisation of the Nirbhaya fund, to help build the whole machinery of CCTV monitoring.

The Delhi Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, approved the move, officials said.

"The Cabinet approved the Transport department's proposal to authorise the DTC to call tenders and sign the agreement for installation of CCTV cameras in 6,350 DTC and cluster buses, utilising the Nirbhaya Fund, to be provided by the central government," said an official, adding that the estimated cost of the project would be Rs 140 crore.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot had said, "The Cabinet has taken an important decision towards safe and secure environment for the public, especially women. This measure would impart a feeling of security to women using public transport."

The DTC will now appoint a bid process manager through an open tender enquiry, said the official, adding that the "objective of this decision is to instill a sense of security in the minds of women commuters and to ensure their safe travel in public service buses".