Haroli Becomes Himachals First Assembly Constituency Under Full CCTV Surveillance
Haroli/Una, July 3: The Haroli Assembly constituency in Una district has become the first in Himachal Pradesh to be brought under full CCTV surveillance. On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri inaugurated 'Aaina', a state-of-the-art command and control center (CCTV surveillance system) established at a cost of ?5.50 crore. Located at the DSP office within the Mini Secretariat, this center marks a significant step towards modern, technology-driven smart policing.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that anyone entering Haroli with criminal intent would no longer be able to evade the law. Round-the-clock surveillance will be maintained through 195 CCTV cameras installed at 60 key and sensitive locations across the constituency. The command and control center will receive an immediate alert the moment a vehicle used in a crime or a suspicious vehicle enters the area, enabling the police to take swift action. Traffic violators will also be closely monitored, and the process of issuing challans (fines) will be made more effective through technology.
He noted that with 'Aaina'—equipped with high-resolution cameras and cutting-edge technology—Haroli has joined the select group of Assembly constituencies in the country to implement an advanced, technology-based surveillance system for effective crime control. He added that this is the first time such advanced technology has been deployed in the state.
He explained that 'Aaina' is the state's first fully wireless command and control system. Activities across the entire constituency will be monitored live via 19 large LED video walls installed at the center. The system has the capacity to store data for up to three months, and even in the event of tampering, it ensures that data is recorded and preserved for up to eight hours.
He further mentioned that seven Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) have been installed at a cost of approximately ?1.50 crore; these will not only enhance traffic management efficiency but also prove invaluable to the police in identifying suspicious activities and criminals. He stated that this system, equipped with modern technology, would not only strengthen crime control but also boost the sense of security among the general public.
**Focus on Expanding Modern Amenities in Rural Areas**
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the government is continuously working to provide modern amenities in rural areas alongside district headquarters. He noted that state-of-the-art facilities are being developed in villages, mirroring those found in cities. The availability of facilities such as the SDM office, various government offices, and vehicle registration services in Haroli stands as a testament to the region's holistic development. He mentioned that approximately 25,000 vehicles are registered in Haroli, and residents no longer need to travel elsewhere for vehicle registration.
**Haroli Bus Depot to Become Operational Soon**
The Deputy Chief Minister announced that the Haroli bus depot would be established and dedicated to the public within the next few days. Electric buses have already arrived, and various routes have been finalized. Regular bus services will operate from here to major destinations, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, and AIIMS Bilaspur. He also stated that the construction of a new police station building in Tahliwal would commence shortly. Furthermore, the government is continuously working to increase manpower and provide necessary resources in line with the requirements of the police force.
**Government Committed to the Pace of Development**
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that ?8.50 crore has been sanctioned to upgrade the Haroli hospital from 50 to 100 beds; of this amount, ?4 crore has already been released, and construction work is set to begin soon. He mentioned that bridge construction projects worth approximately ?140 crore are currently underway in the constituency. Additionally, irrigation facilities are being expanded through the ?75 crore 'Beet Kshetra Irrigation Scheme-II' and the ?97 crore 'Command Area Development and Modernization Project'. Highlighting Haroli's achievements in the education sector, he noted that the constituency is home to institutions such as 33 senior secondary schools, three government colleges, two ITIs, an IIIT, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a law college, a nursing college, and an Ayurvedic college, all of which serve as a strong foundation for the region's educational development.
**Ground-breaking ceremony for Bulk Drug Park soon**
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that work on the Bulk Drug Park project is progressing rapidly, and the ground-breaking ceremony will be held in the coming months. He mentioned that both the state and central governments are investing ?1,000 crore each in this ambitious project, which has a total outlay exceeding ?2,000 crore. He added that the realization of this project would attract significant investment, create extensive employment opportunities for local youth, and provide fresh momentum to the region's industrial development.
**Flag-off of New Police Vehicle**
On this occasion, he flagged off a new police vehicle for the Haroli DSP office. He mentioned that new vehicles had previously been provided to the Tahliwal Police Station and the Pandoga Police Post. With the new vehicle allocated to the DSP office, the vehicle currently in use there will be handed over to the Haroli Police Station, thereby ensuring vehicle availability for all major police units in the sub-division.
**SP Highlights Features of 'Aaina'**
Welcoming the Deputy Chief Minister, Una Superintendent of Police (SP) Sachin Hiremath stated that a total of 195 CCTV cameras have been installed at 60 critical and sensitive locations across the Haroli sub-division, which shares an approximately 55-kilometer-long interstate border with Punjab. These include 103 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and 92 other CCTV cameras. ANPR technology will enable the identification of suspicious vehicles and those involved in crimes, allowing for immediate monitoring of their movements.
He further explained that an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) would operate through the Command and Control Center, facilitating effective monitoring of traffic violations such as overspeeding, riding without a helmet, triple riding, and failure to wear seatbelts. Additionally, round-the-clock surveillance of suspicious activities in public places, markets, industrial zones, and sensitive areas will be maintained, thereby further strengthening crime control and law and order. The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal, State Congress General Secretary Ranjeet Rana, Block Congress President Sandeep Agnihotri, Water Management Board member Pawan Thakur, Zila Parishad members Keval Singh, Sulinder Kaur, and Jyoti Bala, Himcaps Chairman Vikramjit, District Mahila Congress President Suman Thakur, District Youth Congress President Prashant Rai, Congress leaders Yograj Yog, Pramod Kumar, Subhadra Chaudhary, Urmila Devi, Virendra Mankotia, Shakti Chand Rana, Jaspal Jassa, Mehtab Thakur, Vikas, Surekha Rana, Sumit Sharma, Gurmukh Rana, Suresh, and Sewa Singh, Home Guards Commandant Hitesh Lakhanpal, Additional Superintendents of Police Sanjeev Bhatia and Surendra Sharma, Chief Medical Officer Dr. S.K. Verma, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Preeti Pal Singh, Joint Director (Industries) Anshul Dhiman, SDM Vishal Sharma, DSPs Mohan Rawat and Ajay Thakur, along with other officials, public representatives, and a large number of local residents.
