Kathmandu, Feb. 5: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari, has started direct surveillance of the Budhanilkantha area of Kathmandu from Sunday. 

With the installation of 181 CCTVs based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in different areas of Budhanilkantha, now the daily activities of the area will be directly monitored from the control room of the Valley Police, Ranipokhari. 

The CCTVs were installed through the joint effort of the Valley Police and the Budanilkantha Municipality to make the campaign Safe Kathmandu Valley: Our Commitment, a reality. 

According to SSP Dinesh Raj Mainali of the Valley Police Office, an agreement to install the CC cameras was inked with the municipality on April 25, 2023 at a cost of Rs. 50 million. 

The Valley Police has started surveillance of the area from Saturday after the installation of CCTVs was completed, said SSP Mainali, Spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office.

Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Additional Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa and Budhanilkantha Municipality Mayor Mitha Ram Adhikari jointly inaugurated the operation of the CC camera.

Spokesperson Mainali said that under the Safe Kathmandu Plan, a total of 181 artificial intelligence (AI)-based CCTVs have been installed at 79 locations along the Budhanilkantha route, Man Bahadur Marg-Chunikhel route and Kapan route with 174 permanent CC cameras including seven PTZs (Pan-tilt-zoom) cameras and a robotic camera capable of panning horizontally, tilting vertically and zooming. 

On the occasion, Mayor Adhikari, said that they will work hand in hand with the Kathmandu Valley Police Office to maintain peace, security and control crime in the Budhanilkantha area. He said that the CCTV connection has been completed in the first phase and now support would also be provided in the second phase.

During the ceremony, Head of Kathmandu Valley Police Office Ranipokhari, Additional Inspector General of Police Thapa expressed his belief that the CCTV cameras would contribute significantly to maintain peace and security in the area as well as controlling criminal activities in the Kathmandu Valley as a whole. 

He said that he would continue to cooperate with the municipality in the future as well.