Now Reading: Cable theft leaves 60-65 CCTV cameras blind on Mumbai Coastal Road
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Cable theft leaves 60-65 CCTV cameras blind on Mumbai Coastal Road
Repeated theft and cutting of power cables along Mumbai Coastal Road have left several stretches without street lighting and knocked out around 60-65 CCTV cameras, the BMC said. Replacement of damaged and…
Repeated theft and cutting of power cables along Mumbai Coastal Road have left several stretches without street lighting and knocked out around 60-65 CCTV cameras, the BMC said. Replacement of damaged and stolen cables has begun, while a preventive plan is being worked out to stop the incidents from recurring.
Streetlights were initially powered through copper cables, but after around 20-25 complaints of copper theft were registered by contractors, the BMC switched to aluminium cables. The problem continued, with aluminium cables being stolen or cut near Mahalaxmi Temple, Markandeshwar Temple and parts of Worli.
The BMC said it has replaced approximately 110 km of power cables as part of restoration and preventive measures. Fibre communication cables used for the CCTV network have also been cut or stolen, leaving 60-65 cameras offline.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Coastal Road (South) opened in phases from March 2024, with streetlights and CCTV installed per standards. The BMC's switch from copper to aluminium cables was meant to deter theft, but the persistent cutting suggests thieves are targeting the metal value or the cable itself. Under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the civic body is responsible for maintaining public infrastructure, including lighting and surveillance on the road. The next step to watch is whether the BMC deploys tamper-proof conduits or underground armoured cabling, and if police register a case under the Indian Penal Code's theft and mischief provisions, which carry up to two years in prison.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
