Chennai: The residents of Kandasamy Nagar are a relieved lot, as their locality has just turned safer, with the installation of CCTV cameras.
The first phase of set-up that was conducted by the Kandasamy Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association on 21 April, saw Assistant Commissioner of Police, V Visweswarayya, Neelankarai, inaugurating the same.
R Sundaram, Inspector of Police (Crime), Neelankarai, and S Rajeesh Babu, Inspector of Police (Law & Order), Neelankarai, were also present.
According to sources, the project was divided into two phases. In the first, 13 cameras were positioned covering the entry and exit of the colony, while in the second, nine to 11 systems will be installed, covering all the streets.
The work on the latter will be taken up soon, it is learnt. Speaking to News Today, media spokesperson and member of the association, Shri Vidhya S, said, “A number of two-wheeler thefts had been happening in the neighbourhood. But the police were not able to identify the culprits or in which direction the thieves exited the colony. Then, in last December some of us office-bearers attended the meeting by City Commissioner A K Vishwanathan who launched the CCTV pet project in Adyar.”
“The session turned out to be an eye-opener, where we understood the importance of surveillance and how it can be an asset to the colony and help in speedy detection of crime cases. Following this, the said project was taken up, the entire designing of which was done in a systematic and scientific manner. The layout of the locality was used as a template for positioning of the cameras, that aided in optimal coverage. The exit and entry points were given top priority in doing so,” a release said.
Shri Vidhya also noted that the total cost of the process is nearly Rs four lakhs, with the association fixing the charge as Rs 3,000 per plot, even as they mobilised the funds through social media, distributing hand bills and door-to-door campaigns.
“We did not have any external sponsor, but few of our residents donated more than what was required,” she said, adding that the locals now hope the area will be peaceful in the coming days.
For further details, the association can be reached at 90032 39334.