Vijayawada, June 27, 2013: Indrakeeladri, abode of goddess Kanaka Durga, will slip into security net shortly. The temple authorities have chalked out plan to install closed circuit (CC) cameras in every nook and corner of Indrakeeladri to keep a tab on people thronging the hill shrine. Not less than 60 cameras will be procured shortly.

The temple authorities, who invited tenders recently, have received three bids from three firms. Hyderabad based Interactive Data Systems emerged successful bidder. The installation works are likely to be completed in a month as soon as work orders are issued, according to Executive Officer K. Prabhakara Srinivas.

The cameras will be installed right from toll gate near Durga ghat to rayabara mantapam and stairways leading to One Town. The authorities have planned to install high-resolution cameras near the speed gates and parking lots so that the cameras could capture the images of passengers sitting inside the four wheelers as well. The cameras would also record the number plates of vehicles entering the ghat road, he said.

The cameras are likely to come up at speed breakers, steel gate, parking lots, queue lines, prasadam counters, main temple and other sub-temples, kitchen, ramp near toilets, yagasala entrance, rayabara mantapam, sivalayam, and stairways. In a way, images of any person entering either from ghat road or from stairways will be captured on the cameras.

The project is likely to cost Rs.13 lakh. The speed cameras will move 360 degrees and can capture images upto 600 metres. The other types like fixed and dome will have a range of 30 to 50 metres, he explained.

The temple also has plans to install x-ray scanning machine for the luggage carried by devotees. The baggage scanning area will come up near the pongalla shed and is likely to cost Rs. 1.75 crore. The parking lot adjacent to it will be closed. However, other parking area will continue, he added.

Source: The Hindu, DT. June 27, 2013.