Mohali CCTV surveillance project moves at snail’s pace

Work of City Surveillance and Traffic Management System is moving at a snail’s pace and it will take some more time to make it operational partially.

Five agencies of the government – the Punjab Police Housing Corporation (PPHC), Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, National Highways Authority of India, Municipal Corporation and PWD – have been struggling for almost a year to put their heads together and complete the project on time.

On Friday, ADC Viraj S Tidke held a meeting with GMADA Additional Chief Administrator Amarinder Singh Tiwana and others to review the work. Punjab Police Housing Corporation Executive Engineer Jaswinder Singh gave an optimistic deadline to make, at least, 11 points functional within 15 days.

The September-end deadline for the project was reset to mid-November and now to February-end next year.

Officials of GMADA are now finding it a “challenging system” to complete the work under their jurisdiction. The Municipal Corporation, which has given NOCs for the construction work, says it has no role left in the project. The traffic lights installation, horticulture work, line markings, signage and other related works are still incomplete as GMADA is carrying out the road widening work at its own pace.

“As of now, 11 points have been installed and put on a testing mode, while work on the other five points is in progress. Four more points would be started after the completion of the proposed civil works by GMADA,” said a PPHC official.

The proposed civil work at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan and Radha Soami Chowk besides Dairi T-Point (Landran Banur Road) and PCA Stadium crossing will take some more time.

Rs 17.7 crore upgrade

The Punjab Police Housing Corporation project, costing Rs 17.70 crore, has been aimed at putting the city under the surveillance of 400 CCTV cameras. Eighteen busy junctions of the city will be monitored with cameras. Two speed detectors will be installed on the Airport Road.