Mysore, August 24, 2013: Forty new surveillance cameras will be installed at vantage positions, including the entire stretch of Jamboo Savari route from K.R. Circle to Bannimantap grounds, as a security measure for Dasara.

Three control rooms at the Bannimantap grounds, the Mysore palace and the Police Commissioner’s office will keep an eye on the movement of suspicious elements.

Disclosing this to presspersons here on Friday, Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem said the cameras would be installed by the police department and tenders had been invited for the same. These cameras would be in addition to those installed in the previous years.

Of the 40 surveillance cameras already installed here, only 17 are working. These cameras had been installed by the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), which has been requested to get the non-functioning cameras repaired from the agency that installed them.

Mr. Saleem said two additional control rooms for watching the visuals of Dasara events on all days, Jamboo Savari and Torchlight Parade, from the cameras would be installed this year.

One will be set up at Bannimantap stadium and another at the Mysore Palace. This year, more expertise would be brought for overseeing security during Dasara. Instead of bringing police personnel in large numbers from several districts, we are concentrating on bringing expertise for effective policing, he said. There would be personnel, but the number would be less, he said.

Mr. Saleem said traffic management during Dasara is also important in view of surge of tourists’ vehicles. Plans are being chalked out for effective traffic management, he added.

Source: The Hindu, August 24, 2013