The contractor responsible for installing the cameras has refused to continue work until security measures are implemented to prevent further thefts
The installation of CCTV cameras along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, has hit another setback following the theft of 60 CCTV devices from various locations along the route four months ago. These cameras, part of a Rs 65 crore project under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Smart City initiative, were intended to curb private vehicle encroachment and aid in police investigations.
The contractor responsible for installing the cameras has refused to continue work until security measures are implemented to prevent further thefts. Originally, the project was scheduled for completion in June, but monsoon delays and the recent thefts have caused the work to stall once again.
Despite the urgency, no substantial action has been taken by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to address the issue. The municipal project, in collaboration with Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), was aimed at improving traffic management and security along the BRT routes. However, the CCTV systems have remained largely non-functional since last year, leaving the project incomplete.
The BRT system operates along a 53-km stretch in the city, with a plan for 480 CCTV cameras along these routes. The first phase, which involved installing two cameras at the entry points of each bus stop, has been partially completed. However, incidents of theft at 60 sites across the city have left many of these cameras non-operational, undermining the project’s progress.
As part of the SmartCity initiative, 105 CCTV systems were initially planned for installation at 101 bus stops in Pimpri-Chinchwad. So far, cameras at 72 locations have been set up, but the remaining installations have been paused due to security concerns. Overall, nearly 3,000 cameras are expected to be installed in various locations across Pimpri-Chinchwad, with the project cost estimated at Rs 65 crore.
Satish Gavane, head of BRT at PMPML, commented on the situation, saying, “We are in correspondence regarding the CCTV system on the BRT route. Interim tenders were invited for the security system on this route, and it is being processed. A decision will be taken soon.”
The project now hinges on establishing a secure arrangement to protect the CCTV equipment, without which the contractor has expressed reluctance to resume work. A resolution to the ongoing delays is expected only once a comprehensive security framework is implemented, ensuring the project can proceed without further interruptions.
