“A theft a day, keeps a gold chain away” – seems to symbolize the current state of security in Udaipur. With gold chains being snatched at an alarming rate and words like kidnapping, murder, theft and dacoit appearing in the local media like never before, Udaipur is now waking up to the side effects that growth brings to a city.

Dr Rawat, Security General, Assocham maintains that increasing job & income opportunities in cities will foster metropolitan culture attracting migrants & increasing security threat – a consequence that Udaipur seems to be witnessing with a decadal population growth of 23.6% as compared to national average of 17.6% (Census 2011)

Surveillance solutions (CCTV cameras) are increasingly becoming the most sought after security systems with strong support coming from all corners.

Pune Cantonment Board had last year approved CCTV cameras at busy locations after the German Bakery Blast. Inspector Rane from Pune quoted that camera with face detection capabilities will not only help in averting major crimes but also thefts & other minor crimes. Similar views were expressed in a newspaper article in June 2011, by a top police official in Surat stating that CCTV installation may help in reducing crime rates by almost 40%. The Gujarat Government has already initiated a project called “City Surveillance and Intelligent Traffic Management System” to bring five major cities under the police surveillance.

Closer home, Additional S.P. in Udaipur, Tejraj Singh had, in an interview to UT, mentioned installation of CCTV cameras outside malls, hospitals, showrooms etc as one of the most important points for beating crime in the city.

One does not need to monitor every nook & corner of the city, but having CCTV cameras placed at the key junctions will help the administration in tracking crimes and criminal movements. CCTV cameras have been a huge success in the private sector and it is time that the same be replicated for the society at large.

Further, not only can CCTV cameras help in crime reduction but also help in instilling a much required traffic sense in the motorists. High time we give the 108 service a breather!

However, technology can only be an enabling factor -citizen awareness & proactive behaviour with respect to security can standalone go a long way in making the world’s most beautiful city a much safer place.

Inputs by Mayank Jain, Surveillance solution specialist