Defunct CCTVs at Thane station pose security threat

THANE: Thane station has once again become an easy target for any anti-social elements, as out of the 39 CCTV cameras which were installed in 2012 to monitor this vital location, 20 of them have been found defunct. The service contract has been expired a few months ago, leaving the set up unmanned to maintain.
Commuters have complained of such grievous security lapse at a sensitive location like Thane station which handles around seven lakh passengers daily, highest in the Mumbai suburban rail network.A traffic cop admitted that cable fault and in the absence of a maintenance contractor left the CCTV network crippled, but work has begun to set the gadgets in order to resume full-fledged service again soon.
According to a police officer, tenders have been floated for bidders, offering maintenance contract since the old contract was expired. Traffic sources said that three bidders had sent in their quotations hitherto and the maintenance contract will be finalized soon. “This is a serious service lapse on the part of the traffic department, who failed to maintain this network in the station circulating area which is prone to misadventures due to ever increasing volume of commuters,” said Nalin Savade, a commuter.
R M Avhad, senior police inspector (traffic) told TOI, “After learning about the defunct CCTV cameras we immediately started the repair work and hope to complete the task in the next four to five days. Faulty cables are being replaced which seems to be a tricky job. As many as 19 cameras have been repaired and the remaining will be put into scanner at the earliest.”
Station area came under scanner with commissioning of CCTV cameras to prevent crime, curb traffic woes and bring safety in April 2012. As an efficient preventive measure to stop increasing crime, provide safety to passengers and curb traffic chaos in the crowded railway station area, Thane traffic police wing had 39 CCTV cameras across SATIS area.
Anti-social elements, indiscipline auto rickshaw operators and traffic violators had forced the traffic police wing of Thane which had initiated installation of CCTV cameras in the west side of the station at a cost of Rs 8.11 lakh. Most of the cameras are placed beneath SATIS deck.