Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has installed 2,909 CCTV cameras across the city in an effort to enhance public safety and security. However, a staggering 1,054 of these cameras are currently non-functional, raising serious concerns about surveillance and crime prevention.
For example, the Samarth Police Station area alone has 139 non-functional cameras, while Upper Indira Nagar has 100 non-functional units. Other affected areas include Maharshi Nagar with 71 non-working cameras, Tadiwala Road with 70, and Kondhwa with 49.
These cameras were installed after a bomb blast in Pune highlighted the city's vulnerability to terrorist activities, putting it on a high-alert list. The PMC, taking proactive steps, invested crores of rupees to set up the surveillance system, which has since aided in solving various crimes and monitoring road accidents.
However, the responsibility for maintaining these cameras was handed over to local police stations, creating ambiguity about who should bear the cost of repairs for malfunctioning units.
Out of the total 2,909 CCTV cameras installed by the Electrical Department of PMC, only 1,855 are currently operational.
The malfunction of the remaining cameras comes at a time when Pune is witnessing increasing incidents of violence, including attacks by local gangs, murders, street fights, and burglaries.
With over a thousand cameras non-functional, there is growing concern that criminals have more opportunities to operate without fear of being caught.
Police Posts and the Number of Non-Functional CCTVs:
Sambhaji Police Post: 30
Narayan Peth: 27
Shanivar Peth: 35
Khadak: 39
Senadatta: 34
Mandai: 38
Mitha Ganji: 13
Peru Gate: 26
Sahakar Nagar: 24
Maharshi Nagar: 71
Market Yard: 42
Wanwadi Bazaar: 21
Ghorpadi: 9
Vishrantwadi: 7
Samarth Police Station: 139
Gadital: 18
Kasba Peth: 33
Janwadi: 40
Alankar: 8
Karve Nagar: 71
Dahanukar: 15
Happy Colony: 6
Tadiwala Road: 70
Kondhwa: 49
Upper Indira Nagar: 100
Ramesh Gate: 2
Kashewadi: 4
Peru Gate: 2
Sahakar Nagar: 5
Sahakar Nagar Taljai: 3
Parvati Darshan: 4
Laxmi Nagar: 4
Wanwadi Bazaar: 2
Tukai Darshan: 6
Koregaon Park: 2
Vishrantwadi: 4
Kasba Peth: 8
Shivajinagar Police Station: 4
Shivajinagar Post: 5
Pandavnagar: 9
Janwadi: 4
Kothrud Police Station: 9
Karve Nagar: 2
Manisha Shekatkar, Superintendent Engineer, Electrical Department, PMC stated, "After the PMC installs CCTVs, their control is handed over to the local police. So far, the PMC has installed 2,909 CCTVs, out of which 1,054 are non-functional."
