New Delhi: To strengthen women’s safety across the city, Delhi govt has drawn up a plan to install nearly 50,000 advanced CCTV cameras in a phased manner, with the total cost estimated at Rs 646.4 crore.The proposal followed govt’s announcement in the last budget that it aimed to create a 24×7 CCTV surveillance system focused on women’s safety. An initial allocation of Rs 100 crore was made under the ‘Women Safety in Delhi’ head for financial year 2025-26.
According to preliminary estimates prepared by Public Works Department, the project cost included third-party quality assurance, contingencies, labour cess and statutory charges. Under the plan, 49,900 four-megapixel IP bullet CCTV cameras, compliant with STQC standards, will be installed at identified dark spots across Delhi. Each camera will be equipped with a 512GB SD card for local storage. The locations were shortlisted based on inputs from the women and child development department and Delhi Police.In addition, 100 high-resolution automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras with infrared vision and a capture range of up to 100 metres will be installed to improve night-time surveillance and vehicle tracking. These cameras will help law enforcement agencies in real-time monitoring and post-incident investigation, officials said.Around 17,000 eight-metre poles will be installed, with two-three bullet cameras per pole, while 100 poles will be dedicated to ANPR cameras with protective armour. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, 5,000 solar panel systems with lithium-ion batteries providing a minimum 14-hour backup will be installed at locations not covered by electricity networks. Further, 12,100 UPS units with battery backup of at least 30 minutes will be installed for CCTV cameras, along with additional high-capacity UPS systems at the command control centre. Firewall-protected storage systems will be capable of handling footage from 50,000 cameras.A centralised control command centre is proposed at MSO Building in IP Estate or another suitable location to be finalised by Delhi Police. The expenditure for the project will be spread over multiple years, with Rs 50 crore projected for 2025-26, Rs 300 crore for 2026-27 and the rest staggered until 2031-32.
