Pune: AI-Powered CCTV Cameras To Boost Safety In Mohammadwadi, Undri, And NIBM
Pune: AI-Powered CCTV Cameras To Boost Safety In Mohammadwadi, Undri, And NIBM
In a major step toward proactive policing and enhanced community safety, Pune City Police, in partnership with the Mohammadwadi-Undri Residents Welfare Development Foundation (MURWDF), has launched a reconnaissance survey to identify key locations for installing AI-enabled CCTV cameras across Mohammadwadi, Undri, and NIBM Annexe. The survey was led by ACP (IT) Vivek Pawar and carried out by Allied Digital Services, the official contractor under the Pune Safe City project.
Based on community input and risk assessments, 12 priority locations were identified, including blind turns, school routes, parks, and internal roads known for frequent accidents, suspicious activity, and unsafe late-night conditions. The CCTV network aims to improve real-time monitoring, traffic regulation, and rapid police response in areas experiencing rapid urbanization but lacking basic civic infrastructure such as street lighting and footpaths.
“We wholeheartedly welcome Pune City Police’s initiative to set up AI-enabled CCTV surveillance in our neighborhoods. This step will make miscreants think twice before committing crimes, knowing that ‘Big Daddy is always watching.’ Past incidents of bag snatching and late-night robberies have troubled residents, but with this technology, we are confident such threats will be effectively curbed. We sincerely thank ACP Vivek Pawar and his team for prioritizing our community’s safety,” said Sunil Koloti, MURWDF member.
Deepa Cheema, also from MURWDF, expressed relief at the long-awaited visit from the CCTV installation team: “With heavy traffic and DPS School nearby, it’s essential to have surveillance for the safety of children and residents. We appreciate the team taking time to understand our concerns.”
“We are thankful to the team for listening to our concerns. To reiterate, the narrowing road along the community garden at the blind turn is a cause of concern for us, as it often attracts unknown parked vehicles. Hence we request that a camera be placed overlooking the park wall to keep the children returning from school and the elderly that walk on the road safe,” said Gayatri Dubey, Secretary Nyati Enclave.
MURWDF Director Sunil Aiyer highlighted broader concerns: “Much of this area came under PMC jurisdiction only in 2017, and infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with rapid population growth. A floating labor population has raised safety challenges, especially where roads and lighting are inadequate. This CCTV initiative is vital, and we hope it leads to real action rather than lip service.”
This community-driven effort aligns with the Pune Police’s wider Safe City Mission, recently championed by Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, who announced plans to install 2,886 new CCTV cameras citywide by 2025 with a budget of ₹438.22 crore. Of these, 609 cameras will cover hill and ghat areas, including remote zones like Bopdev Ghat, under a separate ₹82 crore allocation.
Importantly, the new cameras will also cover rapidly growing suburbs like Mohammadwadi, Undri, NIBM Road, and Kondhwa, which face increasing traffic, safety risks, and infrastructure challenges. Once the team submits their recommendations to the police, the installation of the CCTV cameras is expected to take another five months.
This delay is primarily due to the extensive groundwork required, including the laying of underground fibre optic cables, which is a major and time-consuming task.
