In a concerning development for the safety and surveillance of Thane residents, 112 out of the 1,400 CCTV cameras installed across the city have been rendered inoperable for several months. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has revealed that a lack of sufficient funds has hindered the replacement of these faulty cameras, prompting officials to explore alternative measures.
Originally installed between 2016 and 2018, the CCTV cameras were part of a large-scale initiative to enhance security across Thane, Kalwa, and Mumbra. These cameras have played a pivotal role in aiding law enforcement agencies by capturing crucial information that has been instrumental in solving numerous crimes. The cameras feed live footage to the control room at Hazuri, where data is continuously monitored. However, over time, technical glitches, environmental factors such as falling tree branches, and weather-related issues like wind and rain have caused a significant number of these cameras to malfunction. While many were repaired and reactivated, the sheer number of faulty cameras has increased. TMC officials have since removed some of the non-functional cameras and replaced them with new units. However, the mounting cost of this replacement process has led to a financial bottleneck. Replacing all malfunctioning cameras would require an estimated INR 25 to 30 lakhs—funds that the municipality currently lacks.
In light of these constraints, the TMC has proposed an alternative solution: the installation of police scheme cameras to cover the 112 defective units. This initiative, according to municipal sources, is being urgently pursued in collaboration with local police authorities. In the meantime, the state government has approved a project to install more than 6,000 state-of-the-art CCTV cameras across the Thane Commissionerate area, including Thane, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, and Badlapur. While this new initiative will bolster security in the region, it does not address the immediate gaps in Thane’s existing surveillance network caused by the current camera failures. While the existing CCTV cameras are periodically repaired, the recurring malfunctioning of some units highlights the larger issue of inadequate funding for essential infrastructure. As Thane grapples with the challenge of securing its streets, the lack of consistent financial backing for vital surveillance systems has raised questions about the prioritisation of public safety within the municipal budget.
Given the rising number of security concerns and the ever-growing need for effective surveillance, authorities must act swiftly to ensure that funding shortfalls do not compromise the city’s safety infrastructure. The decision to rely on police scheme cameras may offer a temporary solution, but a more sustainable funding approach is necessary to maintain and upgrade Thane’s security network for the long term.
