Rs 136.29 crore sanctioned for CCTV surveillance in 18 Nagpur Rural towns

The state Home Department has cleared a Rs 136.29 crore plan to put a CCTV surveillance network in 18 towns policed by Nagpur Rural. The sanctioned amount is Rs 136,29,92,433. The department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on October 30 granting administrative approval.

The scheme did not start out this large. It was first drawn up for 15 towns at an estimated Rs 110.79 crore. On October 13, a high-level committee met under the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), and it decided to bring in three more towns. These are Katol, Savner and Wadoda. The extra coverage pushed the cost up sharply, to the figure now approved.

On October 19, Dr Harssh A Poddar, Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Rural, sent the government a consolidated revised proposal. It set out the enlarged scope and the new cost estimate. The departments concerned examined it and granted approval, and the Finance Department has also agreed to the project.

Going by alphabetical order, the 18 towns are Bhiwapur, Butibori, Kalmeshwar, Kandri, Kanhan-Pipri, Katol, Khapa, Kondhali and Kuhi. The remaining nine are Mauda, Mohpa, Mowad, Narkhed, Parseoni, Ramtek, Savner, Umred and Wadoda.

The Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Rural, will oversee the work and has been named controlling officer for the whole project. Officers in his office who hold powers to draw and disburse funds will handle the spending on implementation.

Once the cameras are running, police expect to keep constant watch on important public places, roads and other key locations in these towns. Officials say this should help them keep crime in public spaces in check, spot suspicious movements and act early on incidents. If an offence does take place, the footage should make it easier to trace the accused and speed up investigations. They also expect it to strengthen preventive policing.

The government describes the project as a significant investment in technology-based policing for rural Nagpur district. It extends CCTV coverage beyond the city to major towns, with the aim of improving public safety, maintaining law and order more effectively and building a stronger deterrent against crime. The expectation is that it will further tighten security arrangements in these towns and give the police solid technological support in preventing crime.