Siliguri Metropolitan Police launched its surveillance project named Nazardari on Sunday. “

Under the project, in all 400 CCTV cameras in and around Siliguri will keep tabs on criminal activities and traffic.

“So far, we have installed around 100 CCTV cameras which are operational. But there are many shadow zones we want to cover. This is one of the major objectives for launching project Nazardari,” said Gaurav Sharma, the commissioner of police.

Hence, 300 more cameras will be set up. Sharma added that before installing the new surveillance system, a scientific assessment had been done to identify locations in association with the north Bengal zonal council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (Credai).

“We have conducted the assessment to identify the locations to set up the cameras under our community-based combined project. We expected that installation of all cameras would be complete in the next three-four months,” Sharma told the media at the police commissionerate on the locations of the 400 CCTV cameras.

Senior police officers said intense CCTV surveillance in Siliguri was needed as the city is strategically important. Located along the chicken’s neck, the slimmest stretch of the Indian subcontinent, Siliguri is near the borders of Nepal, Bangladesh and China.

“It a major commercial hub of east and northeast India and is a transit hub. Millions of people, including tourists, move into the city every day. CCTV cameras can give us comprehensive coverage of prominent locations as well as help us draw up plans for better traffic management,” said an officer.

The new surveillance system, he said, can help ensure safety of the residents and speed up police investigation via live footage, especially in case of traffic-related violations and crimes.