NEW DELHI: With the installation work of CCTV cameras in the Vidhan Sabhas, the Delhi government is also working on installing CCTV cameras at the government schools. Sources in the government said that by July Delhi government would install such cameras in more than 200 schools. According to officials the whole project of installing CCTV cameras in schools will end by 2020.
The first phase of the government's ambitious project to install CCTV cameras in all classrooms of its 1,100 schools will be completed by July. Delhi government had announced the project in the 2017-18 budget, but a delay in the tendering process resulted in its reintroduction in the 2018-19 budget. The government has allocated Rs 600 crore (approx) for the installation and maintenance of the 1.2 lakh cameras. The access and control of the cameras in all classrooms, corridors and the rest of the school premises will be with the principal of each school. Each school will now get 150-200 cameras instead of the usual one-two at the main gate.
The installation of CCTV cameras across the national capital was a flagship programme and a poll promise of the AAP in Delhi which got delayed as the Delhi LG and the city government were not on the same page over the conditions for the cameras. The Delhi government is going to install 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras outside houses and shops, instead of using public infrastructure. Owing to issues related to ownership of the cameras and electricity supply to operate them, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators on Sunday stated that these devices will be put up only on walls of residential units and exteriors of shops.
Earlier this month CM Arvind Kejriwal announced, "The proposal and tender for 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras has been passed. Survey for 70,000 cameras has been completed and now from June 8, the cameras will be installed in different parts of the city. A total of 2.80 lakh cameras will be installed across the city. The cabinet will also pass another proposal for an additional 1.40 lakh cameras by the month end. About 1.5 lakh cameras will be installed in the schools.