828 CCTV cameras non-functional at Odisha’s police stations, outposts

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As many as 16,672 CCTV cameras have been installed at police stations and outposts across the State.

Surveillance at police stations and outposts across Odisha has been affected after 828 CCTV cameras were found to be non-functional, prompting the Odisha police to seek immediate release of funds to restore them and ensure uninterrupted monitoring.

As per Supreme Court directions, all CCTV cameras installed at police stations and outposts are required to remain functional at all times.

The Orissa High Court had expressed concern over non-functional CCTV cameras in the wake of the alleged custodial abuse of an army officer and the sexual harassment of his fiancée at a police station in Bhubaneswar in 2024. It was alleged that there were no CCTV cameras installed at the Bharatpur police station, where the abuse took place.

The Mohan Majhi Government assured the High Court it would complete the installation of the CCTV cameras within three months. The State has 645 police stations and 263 outposts.

“As per the report generated by Krystal Integrated Services Private Limited, as of September 17, 2026, a total of 795 CCTV cameras at police stations and 33 CCTV cameras at police outposts are reported to be offline across the State,” said a letter written by the Odisha police to the State Home Secretary.

“It is requested that necessary direction may please be given to Odisha Computer Application Centre to ensure immediate restoration and continuous functioning of all non-functional CCTV cameras installed at police stations and outposts across the State,” the Additional Director General of Police (law and order) requested the Home Secretary.

The letter also pointed out that “a budgetary amount of ₹76 crore has been surrendered for installation of CCTV Surveillance System in police stations and outposts in the 2025-26 financial year.” The police sought release of ₹76 crore through a supplementary budget for onward payment to Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC). As many as 16,672 CCTV cameras have been installed at police stations and outposts across the State.

According to a senior police officer, the failure of the CCTV cameras is likely to adversely impact the video management system (VMS), which is integrated with the central management system at the State police headquarters. Real-time surveillance would suffer on account of defunct CCTV cameras at police stations.

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