mumbai

Updated: Feb 10, 2018 00:58 IST

A hi-tech and state-of-the-art command centre, which was supposed to centrally monitor all the CCTV cameras installed in Navi Mumbai and Panvel, is not going to see the day of light anytime soon.

The proposal of this first-of-its-kind project in the state was recently cancelled as the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) could not come to a consensus regarding the bifurcation of the fund.

According to the sources, Cidco which had earlier decided to develop a four-storey building for the command centre, expected the NMMC to incur some percentage of the project cost.

But, the civic body refused to do so. Thus, the proposal has been cancelled for now.

Pradeep Kannalu, assistant commissioner of police (wireless) said, “The hi-tech command centre was planned for the cameras installed in both Cidco and NMMC’s jurisdictions. Therefore, Cidco asked NMMC to bear some of the project cost.”

“Since both the agencies failed to come to a consensus, Navi Mumbai is not likely to get any state-of-the-art command centre for now,” he said.

According to the Cidco’s plan, there would have been a 70 feet tall screen in the command centre and the entire screen could have been viewed from first, second as well as third floor of the premises.

There was also a plan to shift the police control room to the command centre. Cidco had also earmarked the area for constructing the centre. There are 266 CCTV cameras installed in the jurisdiction of NMMC.

The cameras are being monitored from a small command center at the police commissioner’s office in CBD Belapur. The civic body is in a process of installing another 451 cameras to keep the city under surveillance.

The Cidco is installing 574 cameras in the area which has come under the newly formed Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

The cameras are being monitored from another command centre which has been set up at an office on Belapur railway station premises.

Kannalu said, “Had the proposed to command centre been a reality, a total of 1,291 cameras from both Cidco and NMMC’s jurisdiction could have been monitored from one centre. This would have made the work of police easier too.”

“We were planning to use the command centre for issuing e-challans. The centre was also likely to play a vital role in tackling possible terror activities in the city,” said another senior police officer .

The NMMC officials refused to comment on this matter, saying that they were busy with the ongoing Swachh Survekshan survey in the city.

Mohan Ninawe, senior public relations officer of Cidco, was also unavailable for comments.