Forty-seven-year-old T.K. Ekanathan, who retired from Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) staff, did not factor in CCTV cameras when he was first planning the construction of his house on 10th Street in Venketachalam Nagar, Thirumullavoyal. He however decided to have them installed at this house, after Giri Ravanan, a long-time resident of the locality, called on him. This house is now being watched over by five CCTV cameras with a centralised digital video recorder (DVR). Ekanathan is not alone. Other residents in six streets of Venketachalam Nagar are going in for CCTV surveillance cameras, installing them at spots facing key intersections and street corners. The neighbourhood of Venketachalam Nagar has 18 streets and around 650 households. “I did install CCTV cameras in my old house as I did not feel the need for it. But other residents from the locality convinced me to have these cameras, saying this would lead to the collective good for the neighbourhood by increasing its safety quotient,” says Ekanathan. Venketachalam Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association is encourging owners of old houses and houses under construction, to have CCTV cameras installed. “Much of Venketachalam Nagar is tucked away, and there isn’t any significant human movement there during most hours of the day, and this could encourage criminals to strike,” says Giri Ravanan, Secretary of the Association. Interestingly, now residents of neighbouring localities, which include Lalithaammbal Nagar and Velammal New Town, are taking tips from tehse residents of Venketachalam Nagar on installation of CCTV cameras.

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