Chandigarh: All 42 street vending zones in Chandigarh will be under CCTV camera surveillance by Dec this year. After completing the tender process to install the cameras, the MC engineering department has issued letters of intent (LoIs) to successful bidders in two of the three cases.As the bidder did not show interest in the first tender exercise held for the third case, the MC will initiate another tender exercise to allot the work.In July, the Supreme Court directed the civic body to complete the process of installing CCTV cameras within six months. The civic body has to submit a report to the Punjab and Haryana high court after the process is complete.The electrical wing of the MC engineering department has prepared tenders worth around Rs 1.4 crore to install CCTV cameras in all 42 vending zones. Sources said engineers and related staff of the civic body visited each vending zone in the city and identified locations for installation of the cameras. The locations were identified in such a way that the entire area of each vending zone could be captured. Safety concerns were also taken into account.“All street vending zones in Chandigarh have been segregated into three divisions for installation of CCTV cameras. The engineering department has prepared three different tenders for the work. Two tenders are worth around Rs 60 lakh each, while one is worth around Rs 25 lakh. Letters of intent have been issued to successful bidders for both tenders worth Rs 60 lakh, enabling them to start work on the ground. In the third division, the tender worth Rs 25 lakh will be floated again,” sources told TOI.Of 42 street vending zones, the one in Sector 15 is the biggest, with the maximum number of vending sites. It is followed by vending zones in sectors 19 and 22, which also draw considerable footfall.BOX: Street vending in ChandigarhAs per MC records, the city currently has 42 street vending zones. The area for new vending zones is under consideration. The city presently has around 4,632 legal and active street vendors. Of the total registered street vendors, around 3,107 fall under the non-essential service provider (N-ESP) category. They have been allotted vending sites in different zones as per the draw of lots.How CCTV surveillance will help residents–Improved safety: Camera surveillance can help deter theft, harassment and other offences in busy vending areas.–Better monitoring: CCTV footage will allow authorities to monitor activities in the vending zones and respond to incidents more effectively.–Evidence in cases: Recorded footage can help police identify suspects and establish the sequence of events when an offence occurs.–Safer public spaces: Surveillance can provide greater confidence to residents, shoppers and vendors, particularly during crowded periods.–Monitoring encroachments: The cameras can also help civic officials keep track of unauthorised activities or changes in the use of vending spaces.BOX: What are the three divisions?The 42 street vending zones have been grouped into three divisions by the MC engineering department for installing CCTV cameras. Each division is covered under a separate tender. Two divisions have been allotted to successful bidders through tenders worth around Rs 60 lakh each, while the third division is to be retendered through a Rs 25 lakh tender.
