While the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP)-led new government succeeded in time-bound implementation of the first phase of installation of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in south Mumbai, sources in the home department claimed the Shiv Sena-run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) left no stone unturned to delay clearance for digging.

Sources claimed the home department had to issue dozens of letters and hold repeated meetings to make the flagship project of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis turn into reality.

"We had to run from pillar to post for clearances, as files pertaining to the permission for digging work for CCTVs would just not move," said a senior officer.

Ironically, while the ally party tried its best to delay the implementation, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-ruled municipal corporation in Pune was extra prompt in supporting the implementation. "Pune was the first city to get CCTVs. The project there went extra smooth. Files pertaining to CCTV digging work were cleared on priority and the department did not have to send a reminder even once," the officer added.

On November 30, thesouth Mumbai was covered with 1,200 CCTV cameras installed at crucial places like Gateway of India, police and traffic headquarters and Mantralaya. In the next phase, CCTVs will be installed in north and east Mumbai by April 2016. In the third phase, central and west Mumbai will be covered under CCTVs by September 2016.

In Pune, however, the project was completed in August 2015, where in over 1,250 CCTV cameras were installed at 440 locations, covering close to 1,600 chowks in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.