Hyderabad needs 2,000 CCTVs but has just 225

HYDERABAD: Though the police are of the opinion that they need more than 2,000 closed circuit television cameras in the City to monitor traffic and criminal activities, currently there are just 225 installed at various junctions. What’s more appalling is that 40 per cent of them are “out of service.” City Police Commissioner AK Khan cited various reasons like issues related to bill payments, repairs and maintenance for the non-functioning CCTV cameras. “We are getting the issues resolved through the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation,” he told reporters here on Thursday.Police officials say that most of the installed cameras enable them regulate the traffic not to keep tabs on criminals and terrorists.“We want more number of CCTVs. Hyderabad needs anywhere between 2,000 and 2,500 CCTVs to cover junctions, roads, interior roads, crime-prone and vulnerable areas,’’ Khan said. The police are holding consultations with the government to get the required number of surveillance cameras. “We may get them in a phased manner or at one go,’’ the police commissioner said, sounding optimistic.The Commissioner also said the police control room would be linked to zonal control rooms for call transferability which would ensure swift response. At present, the police control room can take only 12 calls at a time.