Only 16 of 736 Delhi parks have CCTV, 520 need more lights: Audit report
A security audit of all 736 parks managed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has found that only 16 currently have CCTV cameras, while 520 parks require additional lighting.
The audit was conducted following the gangrape of a 17-year-old girl in a park in Kalkaji and on the directions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The DDA has classified the parks into three categories based on security risks and identified a series of measures to strengthen surveillance and safety.advertisement❮❯ Read Full Story190 PARKS CLASSIFIED AS HIGH RISKAccording to the DDA, 190 of the 736 parks have been classified as high-risk, 258 as medium-risk and 288 as low-risk.
Security-related work in high-risk parks is being prioritised. The DDA has also started additional measures, including bike patrolling, in these parks.
The audit identified several gaps related to lighting, gates, boundary walls, surveillance and security personnel.520 PARKS NEED ADDITIONAL LIGHTING
Additional lighting has been identified as a requirement in 520 parks. Of these, work is being prioritised in 231 parks.
The DDA said lighting-related work has already been completed in 106 parks based on findings from the audit conducted last week. Dark and poorly lit areas have been identified as vulnerable spots, with officials focusing on improving illumination in these sections.323 PARKS IDENTIFIED FOR CCTV
At present, CCTV cameras are installed in only 16 DDA parks. The audit has identified 323 additional parks where CCTV cameras are required.
The proposed surveillance system is aimed at monitoring vulnerable areas within parks and ensuring that footage is available for investigation in the event of an incident.
The DDA has also identified 163 parks where existing gates without locks need to be replaced with lockable gates. The measure is intended to regulate unauthorised entry and strengthen security, particularly during night hours.BOUNDARIES, GRILLS AND NIGHT PATROLLING
The audit found deficiencies involving boundary walls and grills in 399 parks. Repair work and replacement of missing grills have already been completed in 233 parks, according to the DDA.
Officials have also identified vulnerable areas around toilets and abandoned or isolated structures for corrective measures.
Night patrolling has been started in 245 major parks, while the need for gunmen has been identified in 134 parks. The DDA said bike patrolling has been introduced in all high-risk parks.GUARDS TO BE MONITORED THROUGH BIOMETRICS
To improve accountability among security guards, biometric attendance has been introduced in 602 parks. The process is being extended to the remaining parks.
The DDA has also shared contact details of local police and beat officers with field staff across all parks. Details of DDA field staff have similarly been shared with the concerned police personnel. The authority said this contact-sharing exercise has been completed across all parks.SOP AND WEEKLY MONITORING PLANNED
A detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for park security is also being prepared. It will cover patrolling, responsibilities of security guards and supervisors, attendance, incident reporting and coordination with police.
Security tender conditions are also being updated. The DDA has begun meetings with resident welfare associations (RWAs) to understand local security concerns.
A central master tracker and monitoring dashboard have been created to track security improvements. Senior officials will inspect parks every week and review the progress of corrective measures.
The DDA said its Principal Commissioner inspected Yamuna Biodiversity Park on September 30, while the Principal Commissioner (Horticulture/Landscape/System) visited Kamla Nehru Ridge Park on October 1.- Ends
Sushant Mehra is a correspondent at India Today group who covers Delhi politics and all major news all across Delhi-NCR.
