1.4L China CCTVs head for exit

New Delhi: The Delhi government has initiated a phased removal of over 1.4 lakh Chinese-origin CCTV cameras installed across the city, with Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh citing serious security concerns and questioning decisions taken during the previous Aam Aadmi Party government.

According to official data, a total of 2,74,389 CCTV cameras were installed under two phases, of which 1,40,000 cameras set up between September 2020 and November 2022 were sourced from Chinese manufacturer Hikvision. The remaining 1,34,389 cameras were installed between June 2025 and March 2026.

Taking a sharp stance, the minister said, “The Aam Aadmi Party installed Chinese Hikvision cameras across Delhi without thinking about the long-term security implications. Surveillance infrastructure is not just about visibility, it is about control over sensitive data.” He further added, “This was not a routine procurement decision. When you deploy such systems across an entire city, you are making a national security choice. Unfortunately, the Aam Aadmi Party failed to recognise that.” Announcing corrective measures, Singh said the government has approved the replacement of 50,000 cameras in the first phase. “We have taken a decision to phase out a significant portion of the CCTV cameras installed across the city, particularly those sourced from Chinese firms, in line with recent government directives and broader security considerations,” he said.

He emphasised that the transition would be gradual to avoid disruption. “Therefore, we will be gradually replacing cameras with updated systems that meet current technical standards, offer better data security and are supported by a robust supply and service ecosystem,” he stated.

Calling it a “clear course correction,” Singh added, “Every Chinese camera installed earlier will be systematically replaced with secure and trusted systems.” Officials said the replacement will be carried out in phases while maintaining uninterrupted surveillance coverage across the Capital.