Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22: After installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at 28 major locations in the city, police have decided to bring important market areas under the CCTV-based surveillance system.

In the first phase of the initiative, the police have decided to install CCTVs at 10 market places in Bhubaneswar in public private partnership (PPP) mode.

The police have earmarked Bapuji Nagar, Unit-II market, Ashoka Market at Ashok Nagar, Indradhanu at Nayapalli, Ruchika at Khandagiri, Priyadarshini at CRP Square, Ravi Talkies, Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Road, Saheed Nagar and Unit-III markets to be covered. The list, however, does not include two of the city's major daily markets - Unit-I and Unit-IV.

A police official said that these markets have been selected keeping an eye on the vulnerability of these markets and past record of criminal activities.

"We would ask the shop owners of these markets to install the CCTVs at their own cost and these cameras would be integrated with the police control room," said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

He also said that a meeting would be held on February 24 with the representatives of the market committees to discuss the matter.

Another police official said the markets, selected in the first phase, have several jewellery and high-end electronic shops. Video footage from these markets would help cops prevent crime if any suspicious activities are noticed.

"We will be able to prevent criminal incidents by rushing police control room vans to the spot immediately if we notice suspicious activities," said a police official.

Earlier, the police had asked the shop owners on Janpath to install the CCTVs at their shops. "Business establishments on Janpath are among the most vulnerable ones in the city. In the recent past, jewellery shops have been looted. Besides, we have also deployed armed police personnel on Janpath to curb such incidents," said a police official.

On February 5, the police have launched the CCTV-based surveillance in the city installing closed-circuit television cameras at 28 locations in the city. These include AG Square, Master Canteen Square, Rajmahal Square, Airport Square, Kalpana Square and Kalinga Hospital Square.

"We have also identified 178 exit points in the city to prevent crime. In the coming days, most of the areas will be brought under CCTV surveillance," said another police official.