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Odisha police stations grapple with 828 non-functional CCTV cameras

Odisha's law enforcement agencies are struggling with a surveillance crisis as nearly 830 closed-circuit cameras across police stations and outposts have stopped functioning. The state police department has urgently requested government funding to repair and restore the critical security infrastructure.

LSN India · 19 September 2026

Odisha police stations grapple with 828 non-functional CCTV cameras

A significant portion of Odisha's police station surveillance network has become inoperational, with 828 CCTV cameras across various facilities rendered non-functional. The widespread technical failure has compromised the state's ability to maintain visual records at critical law enforcement locations, raising concerns about operational effectiveness and evidence documentation.

The Odisha Police Department has submitted an urgent request to state authorities for the immediate allocation of funds needed to rehabilitate the surveillance system. Officials have flagged the situation as critical, emphasizing that the restoration of these cameras is essential for maintaining security standards at police stations and outposts across the state.

The malfunction of such a large number of surveillance devices underscores infrastructure challenges facing the state's law enforcement apparatus. CCTV systems are integral to modern policing operations, aiding in crime documentation, suspect identification, and evidence preservation during investigations. The extended downtime of these cameras has created gaps in surveillance coverage that police departments rely upon for daily operations.

State officials are expected to prioritize the funding request given the operational impact on police station infrastructure. Once approved, the allocation would enable repair and replacement of the non-functional units, restoring the surveillance capabilities that support law enforcement activities across Odisha's police network.