Ahmedabad’s citywide surveillance system — often called the city’s “third eye” — is rapidly losing vision. Nearly 1,000 of the 3,994 government-installed CCTV cameras are currently non-functional, creating major blind spots in security, crime detection and traffic monitoring.
A large number of cameras went offline due to AMC’s road-widening, flyover construction, drainage work and accidental cable damage. Others failed because of internet and power connectivity issues, officials said.
A senior police officer admitted the breakdown is worrying. “CCTV cameras are crucial for crime detection, traffic enforcement and initiatives like ‘One Nation, One Challan’. These gaps in surveillance are a serious concern,” the official said.
Smart City, Nirbhaya & CSITMS networks hit
The Smart City Project installed 3,003 cameras, but 840 are not working. Even worse, of the 2,662 cameras proposed for traffic junctions, only 1,999 were installed, and 500 of those are now offline, severely affecting traffic control.
Under the Nirbhaya Safe City Project, all 737 cameras were set up, but 78 are non-functional, raising concerns about women’s safety.
The CSITMS network is facing similar issues: all 254 cameras were installed, yet 78 are offline. PTZ cameras have been hit the hardest — 72 of 226 PTZ units are currently down.
Why so many failures?
Documents reveal two primary reasons:
- 522 cameras stopped working due to construction, cable cuts and civic works by the AMC.
- 376 cameras under the Safe & Secure Ahmedabad network failed due to connectivity and power issues.
Authorities claim maintenance is underway but have not given any restoration timeline.
SG Highway still poorly covered
The NHAI-led SG Highway project proposed 39 cameras, but only 17 have been installed so far. Police say this lack of coverage explains why late-night accidents often go undetected, delaying emergency response.
With almost a quarter of the city’s surveillance network dark, experts warn that Ahmedabad’s crime monitoring, traffic management and safety systems are now functioning with serious blind spots.