Pune: Hinjawadi IT Park to get 200 CCTV cameras, installation work to commence soon
Hinjawadi IT Park to get 200 CCTV camaras for enhanced surveillance.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has finally issued a work order for the installation of CCTV cameras on the roads within the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjawadi, nearly 16 years after the initial proposal was put forward.
According to a report by TOI, quoting a senior MIDC official, approximately 200 CCTV cameras will be installed throughout the IT park, with the project set to begin later this month.
The selected firm, awarded the tender for this installation, is expected to complete the work within four to five months. IT companies and their employees have long advocated for this security measure, but the project faced delays due to disputes over funding and objections from the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, the report added.
The IT hub, housing over 150 companies and employing over four lakh people, including many women, operates around the clock, highlighting the need for enhanced security.
An MIDC official said, “We are installing more cameras than originally proposed. These cameras will provide comprehensive coverage of the entire IT park.” The initial proposal, submitted in 2008, estimated the project cost at Rs 8 crore. However, by 2019, the estimated cost had doubled to Rs 16 crore.
“The cost of the project has since been reduced, and we will now spend Rs 5 crore,” the official added. In 2019, discussions led by then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar included plans to incorporate CCTV installation as part of a smart city project. However, because Hinjawadi is outside the PCMC limits, the civic body declined to fund it, and MIDC also refused to bear the full cost.
Subsequent approval from MIDC’s headquarters allowed the project to move forward with a tender being issued. While the Hinjawadi IT Park is under the jurisdiction of the Hinjawadi gram panchayat, MIDC retains control over it.
Industries in the area have been advocating for the park’s merger with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to streamline communication and address their concerns more effectively.
