Delhi plans a major surveillance upgrade, replacing thousands of older cameras with secure systems while ensuring no disruption to monitoring across the city.
File image of a worker installing a CCTV camera in New Delhi (Photo: IANS)
Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Wednesday began a phased removal of nearly 1.4 lakh Chinese-origin CCTV cameras installed across the city during the Aam Aadmi Party government’s tenure.
The decision is rooted in concerns around surveillance safety and control of sensitive data, with the government saying such systems cannot be treated as routine infrastructure.
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Under the PWD, a total of 2,74,389 CCTV cameras were installed in two phases. Around 1,40,000 cameras were set up between September 2020 and November 2022, while another 1,34,389 cameras were installed between June 2025 and March 2026. Officials said all cameras in the first phase were sourced from the Chinese company Hikvision, which has faced global scrutiny.
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Parvesh Sahib Singh said, “AAP did not consider the long-term security implications while installing Chinese Hikvision cameras across Delhi. Surveillance is not just a matter of appearances; it is a serious issue linked to the control of sensitive data.”
He added, “This was not a routine procurement process. When you deploy such technology across an entire city, it directly touches national security. Unfortunately, AAP failed to understand the gravity of the matter.”
The minister said the replacement will be done in stages so that surveillance remains uninterrupted. The new systems will be more secure and technologically upgraded.
“We have decided to remove such CCTV cameras installed in the city in phases, especially those sourced from Chinese companies. They will be replaced with modern, secure, and technologically superior systems that meet high data security standards and have robust supply and service support. The process will be phased to ensure there is no disruption to surveillance,” he said.
He added that approval has been given to replace 50,000 cameras in the first phase. “Every Chinese camera installed earlier will be systematically replaced with a secure and reliable system.”
Taking a swipe at AAP, he said, “For them, it was just about numbers and publicity. For us, it is a matter of security, accountability, and protecting the citizens of Delhi. No compromise is acceptable.”
Officials said the phased rollout will improve both security and efficiency without affecting ongoing surveillance.
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