During Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy’s visit to Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar Higher Secodary School in Ambattur Old Town last year, the Ambattur police woke up to the lack of an effective surveillance mechanism at Rakki Theatre tri-junction on Chennai–Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road in front of the school.
Following the visit, the police installed two CCTV cameras at the junction for better surveillance.
A year on, these two cameras are on the blink. In fact, they have not been functioning for a few months now.
“Repeated requests to higher officials to ensure cameras near the tri-junction repaired have not helped,” say police sources.
It may be noted that when these cameras were functional, they had helped record traffic violations at the tri-junction.
Further, drivers of trailers and lorries bypass the traffic at the tri-junction by taking interior lanes. Working CCTV cameras would help bring such errant motorists to book. “Steps will be taken to ensure the cameras are maintained periodically,” say police sources.