Smile, you are under CCTV surveillance, says a board. But that's inside Metro stations. What about outside — and what about at night, when it's dark and full of terrors?
The situation can be especially dangerous for women. With this in mind, Mera Swabhiman, a Noida-based NGO, has installed eight CCTV cameras around the Botanical Garden Metro station.
Four cameras have been installed at the entrance of the station, which will monitor the foot overbridge; two have been installed at the pink auto-rickshaw stand; and two more at the bus stop.
In an event on Thursday, Bacchu Singh, Noida magistrate, presented the remote surveillance systems to the city police. Nishi Agarwal, president of Mera Swabhiman, said, “Being a woman, I understand how scary returning home late can be. Cases of chain snatching, eve teasing and theft outside Metro stations are so frequently reported.”
RK Rathi, officer in charge of the Botanical Garden police sub-station, said, “The control room is under my supervision and activities outside the Metro station will be recorded both during the day and the night.”
The Botanical Garden Metro station is one of the busiest in Noida, with a large number of commuters from sectors 29, 30, 31 and 37, which are closest to it.
