Over half of Tamil Nadu police stations now equipped with 18-month CCTV storage capacity

1,071 out of 2,100 police stations in Tamil Nadu have been equipped to retain their CCTV footage for 18 months, T.N. DGP tells Madras High Court

Tamil Nadu has completed the installation of CCTV surveillance systems with 18-month storage capacity in 1,071 of its 2,100 police stations, with contracts for 507 more stations to be awarded soon, Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Agarwal informed the Madras High Court in a status report.

The DGP filed the report before Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, detailing the phased implementation of the Supreme Court directive requiring police stations to retain CCTV footage for 18 months. Assistant Inspector General of Police L. Balaji Saravanan submitted the status report on behalf of the DGP, outlining the steps taken by the Police department to comply with the top court's directions.

Phased upgrade across 2,100 stations

The 2,100 police stations across Tamil Nadu include 1,362 Law and Order police stations, 244 All Women Police Stations, 47 Railway police stations and 447 special units that register First Information Reports. Each police station is being equipped with six Internet Protocol (IP) cameras featuring night vision, audio and video recording and storage facility.

The cameras are being installed at vital locations including the reception, verandah/police station hall, Inspector's cabin, Sub Inspector's cabin, lock up room and writer's desk.

Previous systems had limited storage

CCTV surveillance systems were already installed in 1,624 police stations between 2013 and 2022, but the storage capacity of the digital video recorders was only between 15 and 45 days. This fell short of the Supreme Court's 2021 directive mandating 18-month retention of footage.

The State government accorded financial sanction in December 2024 for enhancing the storage capacity in 1,567 police stations. The work was completed in 1,071 police stations in the financial year 2025-26.

Remaining work and new installations

The contract for executing the work in 507 more police stations would be awarded soon, the court was told. In addition, new CCTV surveillance systems including enhancement of storage capacity would be installed in 476 police stations and FIR registering special units.

These units would include offices of the Prohibition and Enforcement Wing, Economic Offences Wing, Civil Supplies-CID, Coastal Security Group, Crime Branch-CID, Narcotics Intelligence Bureau CID, Q branch and Central Crime Branch.

ELCOT handling tender process

The CCTV-related works are being undertaken through ELCOT (Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu). "The tender process is currently at an advanced stage and is nearing finalisation/award of contract to the successful vendor. After award of the contract, the vendor is required to execute and complete the work within a period of two months," the status report read.

Report followed judicial direction

The judge had called for the report after senior counsel R. Shunmugasundaram, assisted by advocate Shakeena Abdul Gafoor, had complained about the Vigilance and Anti Corruption office in Coimbatore not maintaining its CCTV footage for 18 months. The direction was issued by the judge last week to explain whether all police stations in the State were retaining their CCTV footage for 18 months as per a Supreme Court directive.

DVAC under separate department

Responding to the complaint, the DGP/HoPF told the court that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) does not function under him and that it falls under the Human Resources Management (HRM) department.

When Additional Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani told the court that the DVAC was awaiting sanction of funds to enhance the CCTV storage capacity in its offices across the State, the judge called for a report within a week from the HRM Secretary explaining the delay in sanctioning the funds.

Source: The Hindu