Deputy PM urges to speed up installation of CCTVs in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Sept 24 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister/Deffence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to make Bangkok's CCTV network operational by the end of the month. Spokesman for the Ministry Defence Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantawanich said that Gen Prawit has been receiving reports on progress being made on the integration of CCTV within the capital. According to the report, the works had fallen way behind the schedule particularly the works for the refurbishment of existing cameras as well the installation of additional ones. Furthermore, plans for providing a system to link and manage the entire network is nowhere in sight. Lt Gen Kongcheep said that Gen Prawit has ordered that all related departments involved in the project to speed up their work because the matter was urgent and had direct consequence upon internal security concerns. The Deputy Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of Interior to hasten the formulation of plans to manage the entire network by the end of September. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, on the other hand, has been told to have all the interface systems that will link the entire network up and running also within the same time frame. With regards to the system's potential to help traffic congestion in Bangkok, the Royal Thai Police Department and the Department of Highways has been told to coordinate among themselves to make use of data from these cameras to help with traffic management while at the same time providing enhanced safety for not only motorist but also security for all residents in the capital. (TNA)