Bhubaneswar, May 14: The Nirbhaya gang-rape case in New Delhi had prompted the state government to order installation of closed-circuit television cameras in city buses for the safety of women. Funds were released immediately, but two years later the project remains unimplemented on "technical" grounds.

Though government officials could not specify the exact date, they claimed that over two years ago the state housing and urban development department had provided Rs 5 crore to Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Services Limited to install CCTV cameras in city buses plying in Cuttack, Puri, Khurda and Bhubaneswar. However, till date not a single bus has been equipped with the facility.

Asked about the long delay, an official of the transport service provider blamed it on the absence of a technical official to implement the project.

He, however, said a tender had been floated to hire a firm to install the CCTVs.

"Work is expected to start shortly with the recent appointment of two technical persons," the official said and admitted that funds had been lying unutilised for over two years.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena also corroborated the official's statement. "The project is under way and in the next few months all city buses will be fitted with CCTV cameras and GPS devices," Jena, who is also the chairman of the transport service provider, said.

Sudhansu Jena, chief executive officer of private operator Dream team Shahara (DTS), said they did not receive any money from the transport service provider to install cameras.

"We knew that the state government had provided the funds, but no action has been taken. We hope they will take immediate steps following the state government's instruction to private bus operators. The installation of CCTV cameras and GPS devices will help keep track on activities inside the buses," said Sudhansu.

At present, out of the 185 city buses, 145 are plying in these four cities. The fleet also includes 12 air-conditioned vehicles that have inbuilt CCTV cameras. The operators said due to the presence of these cameras, passengers avoid picking up a quarrel with the bus employees. Similarly, the employees also do not misbehave with the public.

Last month, the state government issued instructions to private buses owners across the state to install CCTV cameras and GPS devices in vehicles.