330 CCTV cameras installed ahead of civic polls
Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra civic polls 2026, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has installed an extensive CCTV surveillance networkto ensure transparency and security throughout the election process.
According to a statement issued by the Thane civic body, a total of 330 CCTV cameras have been installed and made operational across key election-related locations within the civic limits.
The surveillance camera installed in Thane will keep a check on election returning officers' offices, strong rooms, EVM commissioning centres, election material distribution centres, sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations, counting centres, main strong rooms, and check posts.
Municipal Commissioner and Election Officer Saurabh Rao, while briefing about the installation of CCTV cameras, said that additional cameras would be installed wherever required.
TMC further said that the CCTV operations are being implemented under the guidance of Additional Commissioner Prashant Rode, with Deputy Commissioner Manish Joshi appointed as the nodal officer. Cameras have been installed ward-wise in strong rooms and returning officers' offices.
Out of all the cameras that have been installed, a total of 295 cameras are currently operational at ward-level locations.
Furthermore, TMC also stated that 30 cameras have been installed at the main strong room at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan near Bethany Hospital as well as the town hall distribution centre and check posts at Modella and Srinagar, taking the total count to 330.
Special security arrangements have also been made for EVM storage. As per the information released by TMC, returning officers and assistant returning officers have been provided separate user IDs and passwords for live monitoring of strongroom cameras.
Eleven surveyors from TMC's City Development Department have been deployed across all returning officers' offices, while senior engineers have been appointed to supervise the technical system.
Also, a central command centre will also be made operational at the TMC headquarters to enable live streaming of all cameras. Commissioner Rao said, "These measures would make the election process more secure, transparent and reliable, reinforcing public confidence in the electoral system."
