A chain snatching incident of last year triggered RWA move to instal CCTVs at all strategic points in the residential complex. In all 135 CCTVs have been installed in the complex at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.
Park View Residency RWA has got its entire complex of condominiums in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon, under the watchful gaze of over a 100 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, that will help security personnel to keep a closer watch on the goings on in the surroundings.
Security for sure gets enhanced for all the residents after installation of 135 CCTVs at all strategic locations. Security personnel monitor a bank of screens that feed CCTV footage and can keep an eye on entry and exit points as also as common utility areas in the residential complex. Recordings of footage are available for a week.
"A chain-snatching incident right outside our complex last year spurred us into action," said Gaurav Yadav, property manager of the society. "We decided to instal CCTV cameras in the society right after the incident."
Gaurav Yadav, the property manager, explaining the CCTV network coverage Photo: Anjoo Dalal
RWA members regularly and routinely monitor CCTV footage on a daily basis. Park View Residency, located in Palam Vihar Sector 3, is spread across 11 acres housing eight towers. It has a population of more than 2,000 people.
“Though no unpleasant activity has happened in our condominium ever , but it is always better to take precautions to prevent it, “ said RWA President, SC Kumar.
Kumar told City Spidey that the association spent Rs 25 lakh to purchase the 135 CCTVs and installed them at several points, including the main gates, the clubhouse, gymnasium, dispensary and mandir. “We are open to installing more cameras, as and when required,” Kumar said.
“Now can keep a check on who is coming in and out of the society. We can access up to seven days old recordings, if required,” he said.
The trigger for the CCTV drive in the residential complex was a chain snatching incident right outside the main gate of the complex. It was after this incident last year that a decision was taken to cover the entire area with CCTV cameras.
Delhi police has been asking the RWAs to instal CCTVs as a security measure for the past several years, as video recordings help investigating incidents of crime, if they happen. Besides, said a police officer, “CCTV surveillance itself acts as a check to some extent.”
Avtaar Singh Maan, 65-year-old senior resident, said, “the presence of cameras itself gives us a sense of security. The security guards cannot keep a watch over every nook and corner. The cameras are now becoming mandatory these days.”
