Cuttack, Aug. 9: To step up its efforts to check crime in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, police have stressed on the need to install advanced security systems.

Addresing a residents' security committee meeting on Sunday, police commissioner R.P. Sharma urged puja committees to install CCTVs near their pandals.

The move comes following a rise in robberies in the last one and half months here. There are 155 puja committees here and installing CCTVs near pandals will help capture activities in prominent lanes. "We have requested puja committees to install CCTVs in such a way that it covers maximum area to put a check on criminals," said Sharma.

Sharma said that nearly 100 prominent areas would come under CCTV surveillance if the puja committees allocate a certain amount from their budget to install advanced security systems. It is close to completion in eight prominent spots including Khannagar, Badambadi, Sati Choura, Manglabag, Sikharpur, Buxi Bazar, Sikharpur and Chandi Mandir.

"The process of installation of CCTV at the eight identified locations has almost reached final stages," he said.<> and the advanced surveillance systems will be installed before Dussehra," Sharma said.

A senior official said that around 32 high-resolution CCTV cameras would be installed at the eight identified traffic junctions to check traffic violations.

These state-of-the-art systems will also help to keep criminals in check.

The state transport authority has released Rs 50 lakh from its road safety fund for the project to tighten security measures on city roads.

According to proposals, the CCTV cameras will have high-end sensors, red light violation detection and automatic number plate recognition system.

Sophisticated pan tilt zoom cameras having a coverage range up to 500 metres that are capable of covering large distances in a single frame will also be installed in a few areas.

The police also urged the members of the residents' security committees to assist the local police station to conduct regular patrolling in their respective areas.

"There are 19 residents security committees in Cuttack and there have already been efforts to resolve petty issues and disputes through such committees in an amicable way in the city," said Prafulla Sahoo, secretary of the Khannagar puja committee.

Puja committees and members of the residents' security committee asked senior officials to be more alert and conduct intensive night patrolling in various parts of the city.

"A lot of people are not willing to share information as their identity is not being kept secret. Besides, the police officials should conduct meetings with the members of the residents' committee once every month," said Rabi Satpathy, a member of the Mahanadi Vihar puja committee.