Chandigarh will receive 2,152 additional AI-enabled surveillance cameras as the Centre expands the city’s security network, Union home minister Amit Shah announced at Chandigarh Police’s 60th Raising Day and President’s Police Colour ceremony on Sunday.
The new cameras will be added to the approximately 2,130 CCTV cameras already installed across the city. Shah said the expansion would strengthen surveillance coverage, help police monitor suspicious activity and support crime prevention. The announcement was made at Chandigarh Police Lines in Sector 26.
The additional equipment is being provided by the Centre. The announcement will take the city’s reported camera network to more than 4,000 units once the new installations are completed, although the statement did not specify the deployment schedule, locations or the technology and data-management standards to be used.
Shah also cited Chandigarh Police’s performance under the three new criminal laws. He said 8,206 first information reports had been registered in the city since August 4, 2024, while online chargesheets had been filed in 7,590 cases, representing nearly 92.5% of the total. According to the figures presented by the home minister, the force had recorded an overall conviction rate of around 85%, with convictions taking an average of 140 days.
In cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the conviction rate had reached 93%, Shah said. He praised Chandigarh Police’s campaign against drug trafficking and gangsters and expressed confidence that the city’s police force would become the first in the country to achieve a drug-free status.
The home minister also highlighted the force’s emergency response system. He said Chandigarh Police’s average response time was four minutes, while quick response teams could reach an incident location in around 10 minutes. He linked the response performance to the combined use of technology, investigation and policing resources.
Mobility and patrolling capacity are also set to increase. Shah said 154 new vehicles had been added to the Chandigarh Police fleet in 2026, with another 141 vehicles announced for induction. The additional vehicles are intended to improve patrolling, mobility and emergency response across the city.
The ceremony marked six decades since Chandigarh Police was established in 1966. Shah said the President’s Police Colour recognised the force’s discipline, dedication and service. He urged police personnel to prioritise action against drugs and protect young people from addiction, while linking a drug-free Chandigarh to the broader national goal of a developed India.
The Centre and Chandigarh Police have not yet provided a public installation timetable for the 2,152 cameras or details of the locations and operational arrangements for the expanded network.
