DDA Audit Finds CCTV Gaps in Delhi Parks

• 16 of 736 parks currently have CCTV cameras.
• 323 additional parks have been identified for CCTV installation.
• 520 parks require additional lighting, with work initiated in 231.
• 602 parks have biometric attendance systems for security guards.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Oct: Only 16 of Delhi Development Authority (DDA)’s 736 parks have CCTV cameras, accounting for about 2 per cent of the parks covered in an internal safety audit conducted after the gangrape of a 17-year-old at DDA-managed Astha Kunj last month.

The audit was ordered by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tranjit Singh Sandhu following the incident, in which three men allegedly posed as police personnel. The DDA has categorised its parks into High, Medium and Low-risk groups to prioritise security interventions.

Of the total parks, 190 have been classified as high-risk, 258 as medium-risk and 288 as low-risk. Bike patrolling has already begun in high-risk parks, while armed guards are proposed for deployment at 134 parks.

The DDA said works have already been completed in 106 parks for immediate lighting requirements based on the recent audit.

The agency has also identified 163 parks where access arrangements need strengthening. Unlockable gates at these locations are being converted into lockable gates as part of the security measures.

Security guard monitoring is also being strengthened through biometric attendance. The system has been activated in 602 parks, while implementation is underway in the remaining parks.

The DDA has further said that contact details of local police and beat officers have been shared with field staff and vice versa. Staff are also being sensitised on incident reporting and coordination with police. According to the agency, contact-detail distribution has been completed across all parks.

The safety audit and subsequent measures come amid renewed scrutiny of security arrangements in DDA-managed parks following the Astha Kunj incident.