SDMC to make CCTV mandatory in all commercial establishments

To improve safety of women, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation plans to make installation of CCTV cameras mandatory in all commercial establishments, bigger than 250 sq ft, under its jurisdiction.
SDMC deputy commissioner Sushil Singh said the move is in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Home Secretary to enhance safety measures in the wake of the December 16 gangrape of a 23-year-old girl in the national capital.
"While the entry and exit of all markets are already covered by Delhi Police, the Home Secretary had directed all corporations to do the same as far as shops and other establishments are concerned," he told members of the SDMC Standing Committee.

Meanwhile, the corporation postponed taking any decision on increasing the parking fee as approved by Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna. A corporator said the corporation members are planning to meet the Lt Governor on the issue.
"Under the new initiative, it will be mandatory to keep a recording of the footage at least for a month so that if the law enforcement agencies require it, the same can be provided to them," Singh added.
When Leader of the Opposition Farhad Suri expressed his concern, saying whether the decision would be acceptable to small shop owners, Commissioner Manish Gupta assured that the matter will be taken up at SDMC House before implementing it.

"We cannot enforce this decision until the law has been amended. It will then come before the Standing Committee before being tabled in the House and will only then be sent to the Delhi government and onwards to the Home Ministry," Gupta said.

Informing the members, Singh said the amendment as per the Home Secretary's instruction had been drafted and will soon be presented before the committee.
Under the new guidelines issued by the Transport Department of Delhi government, four wheelers will have to pay Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50 for 30 minutes, one hour and three hours respectively during non-peak hours. Beyond this, for every additional hour, a payment of Rs 20 extra will have to be made.

During peak hours, the charges would be 50 per cent more than the above charges. In case of two wheelers, the charges are proposed to be levied at rates 50 per cent of those proposed for four wheelers with the condition that it would not exceed Rs 50 for up to nine hours.
The Standing Committee members expressed their unhappiness over the enhanced rates.
Suri said raising parking rates will not push people to use public transport in Delhi. "Only illegal parking on roads will increase leading to even more congestion," he said.