Cuttack, Oct. 10: Surveillance in the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital would shortly be stepped up with installation of at least 100 CCTVs at 21 locations on the campus and Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras on both the main entrance gates.

The cameras not only facilitate high-resolution photos, but also make long shots possible, along with zooming and 360 degrees rotation. The PTZ cameras would allow monitoring of entry and exit of persons or vehicles through the front gate on the Manglabag side and the rear one on the Ranihat side.

"The project is in an advanced stage. We expect the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and the PTZ ones to be put in place by the end of December this year," the hospital's administrative officer Pratap Mishra told The Telegraph.

"In fact, a technical team of the Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation on Monday made a spot assessment to prepare a draft proposal report, along with the project cost," Mishra said.

The corporation had been in charge of keeping Puri under CCTV surveillance during Nabakalebar. Keeping in view the success of the corporation during the festival, it was entrusted the job of installing the CCTV cameras at SCB.

In the wake of the Delhi gang-rape case, the police had, in February 2013, recommended installation of CCTV cameras at different locations in the SCB for improvement of surveillance on the campus. At that time, it was emphasised that there was a need to ensure security for the women attendants of patients, women staff members, girl students of medicine, nursing and other courses.

When asked about the delay in the installation of surveillance cameras for more than two years, Mishra said: "I was not aware of any such recommendation by the police."

Orissa High Court-formed health care committee member Pravat Ranjan Dash said: "The new-found enthusiasm of the SCB authorities to install the CCTVs is a good sign. But, it remains to be seen how long they would take to make it a reality."