Bengaluru's 'Safe City' project to be completed by March 2024

Project is being implemented at a cost of Rs 496.57 crore

Project cost shared in 60:40 ratio between central and state governments

The phase two implementation of the Bengaluru’s ‘Safe City’ project will meet its completion deadline in March 2024, according to a statement from a senior police official.

The ‘Safe City’ project, which primarily focuses on enhancing safety for citizens, particularly women, commenced its first phase earlier this year.

It was initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in March 2023 ahead of the last Karnataka Assembly elections. This inaugural phase was executed under the auspices of the Union Home Ministry’s ‘Nirbhaya Fund.’

Honeywell Automation India Limited had secured the project contract for a sum of Rs 496.57 crore in 2021, with the project’s overall cost being shared in a 60:40 ratio between the Central and State governments.

The project’s scope encompasses the placement of 7,500 CCTV cameras across 3,000 strategically selected locations, the establishment of 50 safety islands, the creation of 158 viewing centers, and the establishment of a central command center.

In the first phase, 4,100 surveillance cameras, 30 safety islands, 96 viewing centers (comprising 88 within police stations and 8 in DCP offices), along with a command center featuring eight camera-equipped drones, have been successfully deployed. The remaining components are now being installed as part of the second phase of the project.

In a notable development, the commencement of the ‘Safe City’ project led to the obsolescence of over 800 previously installed surveillance cameras, which had been put in place under the Mega City Policing (MCP) initiative. These cameras were phased out as their Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) expired in April 2022.