Uttar Pradesh is enhancing women’s safety through a new statewide CCTV network, integrating AI and real-time monitoring. The initiative, backed by the Nirbhaya Fund, aims to deter crimes and ensure swift police response. Despite concerns over privacy and effectiveness, the state pushes for technological solutions to address rising violence against women, with plans for thousands of cameras across cities.
Uttar Pradesh Deploys Cutting-Edge CCTV Systems to Enhance Women’s Safety
In a significant move to address women’s safety concerns, Uttar Pradesh has launched an ambitious initiative to install advanced closed-circuit television (CCTV) networks across the state. The project, supported by the Nirbhaya Fund, aims to curb crimes against women through enhanced surveillance, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered analytics, and real-time monitoring. With Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of crimes against women in India in recent years, this technological intervention is being touted as a game-changer, though it has sparked debates over privacy and efficacy.
The Uttar Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has prioritized strengthening law enforcement through technology. According to recent announcements, the state plans to install over 100,000 CCTV cameras in key urban centers, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, and Varanasi. These cameras are equipped with facial recognition and emotion detection technologies to identify potential threats and alert authorities instantly. A post on X by the Uttar Pradesh government highlighted the initiative, stating that the state is creating a “digital security shield” to ensure a “crime-free, fear-free environment” through its zero-tolerance policy on crime.
The initiative comes in response to alarming crime statistics. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2022-23, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 15% of crimes against women in India, with over 65,000 cases reported, including rape, molestation, and dowry-related violence. The recent rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata further intensified public outcry, with women in cities like Lucknow demanding increased surveillance and prompt policing. Activists and residents have pointed to frequent incidents of harassment in public spaces, emphasizing the need for visible deterrents like CCTV cameras.
The new CCTV network is part of the broader Safe City Project, funded by the Nirbhaya Fund, established after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. The project includes not only surveillance but also panic buttons, women’s helplines, and integration with the UP 112 emergency response system. In Lucknow, police have introduced cameras with emotion recognition to detect distress signals, a technology that officials claim could revolutionize crime prevention. “The cameras will act as a deterrent and aid investigations,” said a senior police official in Lucknow, echoing sentiments from earlier initiatives in Delhi and Chennai.
However, the reliance on CCTV surveillance has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and women’s rights activists. Studies, including a 2008 systematic review of 44 global studies, suggest that CCTV systems have a modest impact on preventing property crimes but are less effective against violent crimes, including those against women. Critics argue that the majority of sexual violence in India—94.6% of rape cases, per 2016 NCRB data—occurs within homes, where public CCTV cameras have no reach. Roop Rekha Verma, a women’s rights activist in Lucknow, emphasized, “The police don’t even know if this technology works. We need education and more female officers, not just cameras.”
Privacy concerns are also significant. The lack of a comprehensive data protection law in India raises fears of misuse, such as voyeurism or moral policing. In 2019, leaked CCTV footage from Islamabad and harassment cases at Balochistan University highlighted the risks of unchecked surveillance. In Uttar Pradesh, there are concerns that footage could be misused by private entities or Resident Welfare Associations, potentially leading to extortion or harassment. The Internet Freedom Foundation has called for strict guidelines and post-installation audits to ensure accountability.
Despite these challenges, the Uttar Pradesh government remains optimistic. An official from the Home Department stated that the CCTV network will be monitored 24/7 through centralized command centers, with AI analytics identifying suspicious activities in real time. The state has also integrated the UP 112 emergency service, which recently demonstrated its efficacy by preventing a suicide attempt in Meerut through swift response. Additionally, plans are underway to install 2,000 cameras across 750 locations in Guwahati, a model Uttar Pradesh is emulating.
The project’s cost, estimated at over Rs 2,000 crore, has raised questions about resource allocation. Activists argue that funds could be better spent on increasing street lighting, improving public transport, or hiring more female police officers, who currently make up less than 10% of the force. A 2020 audit of Delhi’s Safe City Project revealed that only 60% of installed cameras were functional, underscoring maintenance challenges that Uttar Pradesh must address.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have also emphasized community engagement, encouraging residents to register private CCTV cameras with local stations to create a wider surveillance network. This approach mirrors efforts in other countries, such as Singapore, where CCTV has deterred minor crimes like littering. However, the state must balance surveillance with public trust to avoid alienating the very population it aims to protect.
As Uttar Pradesh rolls out its CCTV network, the initiative represents a bold step toward leveraging technology for women’s safety. Yet, its success hinges on addressing privacy concerns, ensuring maintenance, and complementing surveillance with holistic measures like education and gender-sensitive policing.
Disclaimer: This article is based on recent news, official statements, and publicly available data, including posts on X and web sources like The Hindu, Times of India, and NCRB reports. Information is accurate as of September 2, 2025, and reflects ongoing developments. Always verify with primary sources for critical decisions.