Sambalpur, March 27: The Ganagadhar Meher University has recently installed surveillance cameras in all its hostels in an attempt to tighten the security of its students.

The closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at the entrances to the girls' hostels of the university.

Such cameras have also been installed at the entrances and the reading rooms and office rooms of all the boys' hostels. The cost of the surveillance cameras came from the hostel funds.

The university has seven hostels - three girls' and four boys'. There are around 1,500 boarders in the hostels.

"It was noticed several times that outsiders were entering to the boys' hostels and creating disturbance. The CCTV cameras will check intrusion of outsiders. It will also help us keep a vigil on the activities of the students. The students of the institution were demanding installation of surveillance cameras for sometime," said U.C. Pati, deputy registrar of Gangadhar Meher University.

"There were also several complaints of theft inside the hostels. The CCTV cameras will help check such incidents," Pati said.

He also said work on installation of decorative lights on the median of the road, which leads to the university building from the main gate of the institution, would begin shortly.

"High mast lights would also be installed to illuminate the field. The West Odisha Development Council has sanctioned Rs 16.59 lakh for the purpose," said Pati.

Pati also said that work on making the campus a full-fledged Wi-Fi zone would also begin shortly and work in this regard would be completed by March 30. "A Bhubaneswar-based firm has been entrusted to execute the project," said Pati.

Earlier, the varsity had installed surveillance cameras in its main building as well as in some of the classrooms.

The students have welcomed the step to install CCTVs. "Installation of the CCTV cameras in the hostel was essential. It will make us feel secured on the campus," said Ipsita Pattnaik, a student of the varsity.