The Delhi Police, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), already operates 19,431 cameras installed since 2018–19
In a major step to strengthen surveillance and speed up crime investigations, the Delhi Police will now be able to directly monitor footage from all CCTV cameras installed in public spaces across the Capital. The Public Works Department (PWD), which had previously managed and controlled the majority of these cameras, has granted full and direct access to the police.
Under the ongoing project, the Delhi Police will be able to view and retrieve footage from all existing PWD-installed cameras without seeking prior permission. Going forward, the police will also have the authority to decide the locations for upcoming CCTV installations, while the PWD will continue to handle the installation and maintenance work.
Confirming the development, a Delhi Police spokesperson said, “We are part of the surveillance under the ‘Safe City’ project. This is an extension of that. The CCTVs will be beneficial as police and PWD can access them in time.”
The Delhi Police, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), already operates 19,431 cameras installed since 2018–19. However, senior officers have long maintained that this number is inadequate for a city of Delhi’s size and complexity.
By contrast, the PWD has installed more than 2.8 lakh cameras across the city since 2018 under a project initiated by the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Most of these are located on public roads, in government buildings, at underpasses, and other public spaces. Delhi Police cameras, on the other hand, are concentrated on arterial roads, metro and railway stations, markets, and at the airport.
A senior PWD official said the department is in the “final stages” of making all installed cameras operational and handing over access. “The relevant cameras and their access are being transferred to the police. The entire process will take some time,” the official said.
The decision follows a series of joint meetings held since last year involving the chief minister, PWD officials, special police commissioners and district-level police chiefs. Special Commissioner (Law and Order) Madhup Tiwari said, “PWD officials had agreed to provide access after our request. Later, we asked for access to newly installed cameras as well. That has also been approved.”
The move addresses long-standing challenges faced by the police, who previously had to approach PWD engineers or officials before retrieving CCTV footage for investigations. Officers had also raised concerns about many cameras being defunct and the system’s inability to store footage for more than a few days, slowing down probes into murders, robberies, hit-and-run cases and street crimes.
At the final meeting chaired by the chief minister last month, the police were granted the ability to view footage directly from PWD control panels. “This is crucial not just for cases but also for women’s safety and overall surveillance across the Capital,” a senior police officer said.
Police officials said they have already begun receiving passwords to the PWD-operated systems. A deputy commissioner of police confirmed that “password sharing has begun,” while another senior officer said the police will now also oversee audits and be kept informed about all new camera locations.
