Pune: The theft of batteries from CCTV cameras installed for city surveillance has raised serious security concerns in Pimpri. The latest instance of such thefts came to light on Saturday (December 21), in Nigdi-Pradhikaran.

Over 1,500 batteries have reportedly been stolen in the last two years, exposing lapses in monitoring and security by both the municipal corporation and police administration.

The thefts have been reported in several key areas, including Pimple Saudagar, Old Sangvi, Pimple Gurav, Moshi, Pradhikaran, and Pimpri Chowk.

While these cameras were installed as part of the Smart City initiative to enhance public safety, over half of them are now non-operational, primarily due to stolen batteries. The situation has severely hampered police investigations, as missing footage from non-functional cameras limits their ability to track suspects or vehicles involved in criminal activities.

The CCTV cameras, set up under a substantial budget, rely on batteries stored in centralized boxes for eight to ten cameras. These boxes have become easy targets for thieves, creating a major challenge for the Pimpri-Chinchwad police. Despite the installation of a Command Control Room in Nigdi to monitor these cameras, the thefts have largely gone unnoticed.

Furthermore, the cameras are linked to local tax department offices and monitored by traffic police for rule enforcement. However, neither the traffic police nor the control room staff noticed the missing batteries, raising questions about the efficiency of these systems.