The nightmare of traffic management for policemen at four strategic junctions in the city is almost over.

About eight months after the police had announced installation of four CCTV cameras at the locations, the first one has been installed at the Patna Junction roundabout.

Though still not functional, those involved in the installation process have claimed that three more cameras — technically termed Internet protocol (IP) cameras — would come up at the Dakbungalow roundabout, the Income Tax roundabout and the Exhibition Road roundabout by beginning of next month.

“One camera was installed at the Patna Junction roundabout around two days ago. In fact, the installation is still going on. There has been a delay in the entire process because of a lot of factors. The Internet connection for the same took almost six months and then there were issues regarding the procurement of no-objection certificate from the Patna Municipal Corporation and also power connection from Pesu. In fact, we had to seek favours from some senior officers in a bid to convince Pesu to provide us with a power connection. At present, the problem areas have been solved and the installation process has started,” Navendu Kumar, the managing director of Patna-based Verma Infocomm Private Limited, which have been given the job of installation and maintenance, told The Telegraph on Monday.

The plan had been announced on December 24 last year by former Patna SSP Alok Kumar during the launch of the Patna traffic police website (www.patnatrafficpolice.in). The officer, who is now DIG, Saran, had said that four cameras would be installed in three weeks at four roundabouts of the city as the equipment would enable the cops of having a view of vehicular movements. With the website promising to send traffic updates when it comes to snarls, the cameras will help provide the cops with real-time situation of the four areas. Based on the same, the website would be updated and the same should be available on the traffic police helpline (0612-2219543), it was said.

“The police officer concerned can check the footage live on computer. Though the work has been delayed, we are trying to finish it at the earliest,” Kumar added.

Police officers said that another plan of installing at least 30 CCTV cameras in different areas of the city had been finalised with the locations being decided. “The cameras have already arrived. A list regarding the locations is being prepared and will be finalised very soon. These cameras will be installed for security with police being able to keep an eye on the many roads and lanes of the city. For this, there will be a control room in which monitoring will be done,” an officer said.

Sources added that these cameras would help the police check incidents of loots, eve-teasing, chain snatching among others. “Patna has witnessed many such incidents and it becomes very difficult for the police to hunt for the accused. With the help of these cameras, the police can see them and thus it will be an easier task to locate and arrest them,” the officer said.