The ambitious project of installing CCTV cameras across major crossings in Jammu was once hailed as a step toward modern, accountable, and disciplined urban governance. It was envisioned to bring order to chaotic roads, ensure adherence to traffic rules, and create a system of deterrence against violations. However, the ground reality today tells a different and disappointing story — that of neglect, apathy, and squandered public resources.
A casual glance at any prominent junction — Jewel Chowk, Panama Chowk, or Last Morh Gandhi Nagar — reveals the dismal state of affairs. Vehicles jump red lights with impunity, drivers speak on mobile phones while driving, and public transport operators routinely flout every traffic norm. The CCTV cameras, installed with great fanfare, now appear more as ornamental fixtures rather than tools of law enforcement. The expectation that technology would instil discipline has evaporated, leaving citizens frustrated and disillusioned.
If the surveillance network were functional and its footage actively monitored, the region would have not only improved road safety but also generated significant revenue through fines and challans. Instead, the absence of enforcement raises a pertinent question: Are these cameras defunct, or is their footage gathering digital dust in some forgotten control room? Either way, it reflects poorly on administrative accountability and planning.
The failure of this surveillance system goes beyond mere technical malfunction. It symbolizes a deeper malaise — the habitual disregard for maintenance, follow-up, and transparency in public projects. Crores of rupees from the public exchequer have been spent on this infrastructure, yet there seems to be no mechanism to evaluate its effectiveness or ensure that it serves the purpose it was meant for. When public funds are used to create systems that remain non-functional, it is not just inefficiency — it is negligence.
Equally troubling is the opacity surrounding its operation. Why are the details of challans issued through these cameras not being shared with the public? Why has there been no periodic report on the number of cameras functioning or on traffic violations recorded through them? Transparency is the cornerstone of accountability, and its absence only fuels suspicion that the project is yet another instance of wasteful expenditure gone unchecked.
In a city grappling with frequent accidents and reckless driving, a defunct CCTV system is not a trivial lapse — it is a serious failure that compromises public safety. The authorities must act decisively: audit the surveillance infrastructure, disclose operational data, fix responsibility, and restore public confidence. Anything less would be a betrayal of the very purpose these cameras were meant to serve.
