With an eye on optics ahead of the political season, Punjab government’s ambitious Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) project for Jalandhar is finally being launched today — but in pieces. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav will inaugurate the long-delayed facility at 3 pm at Police Lines, Jalandhar. Instead of a sweeping rollout across the city, the much-hyped Rs 116-crore initiative will begin with only 13 traffic junctions covered under automated challans.
Envisioned as the backbone of Jalandhar Smart City, the ICCC was awarded to M/s KEC International Ltd. in January 2022 at an awarded cost of Rs 77.98 crore. The project promised a host of services: 1,218 CCTV cameras, adaptive traffic lights at 20 junctions, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, solid waste and disaster monitoring, public address and variable messaging systems, smart streetlights, and even water and air quality sensors. Originally slated for completion by December 2022, the deadline was extended to March 2024. Yet, more than a year later, large parts of the system remain unfinished.
Patchy rollout after missed deadline
Officials confirm that while the ICCC building and data centre were completed — the building itself at a cost of Rs 1.67 crore back in 2020 — the integration of critical modules continues to lag. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is only about 30 to 50% functional, waste monitoring is under 20%, and street vendor detection is nowhere near complete. Even the network backbone essential for live feeds stands at around 81%.
“This is a classic case of a project being dressed up to show progress,” said a former municipal officer. “The system was supposed to be Jalandhar’s smart surveillance backbone, but right now it’s little more than a challan machine at a few chowks.”
Residents unconvinced
Public reaction reflects frustration with the long wait and poor outcomes. “Cameras have been there for over a year, but accidents at BMC Chowk continue. Nothing has changed on the ground,” said Gurmeet Singh, who runs a shop near the junction.
Another commuter, Ritu Sharma, was more critical. “Every monsoon, roads break apart and traffic becomes a nightmare. Instead of fixing that, they put up cameras to fine us. Unless the roads and system both work together, this will not last.”
Departments blamed for delays
Behind the missed deadlines lies alleged poor coordination between the Municipal Corporation and the police department. Insiders say the MC was responsible for the civil and electrical work, while the police oversaw monitoring and enforcement. But both sides kept passing the buck, leading to months of stalling. “Each department blamed the other for delays, and the project got stuck in the middle,” admitted an officer.
Experts caution
Urban experts too are sceptical about the government’s approach. “E-challans alone do not make a smart city. Integration is the real test — linking road management, waste collection, and real-time monitoring. Without that, it remains half-baked,” said Anil Mehta, a policy analyst.
He added that the system risks early failure without upkeep. “If maintenance and scaling are ignored, it will collapse in two to three years, wasting taxpayer money.”
Optics over outcomes
Observers note that the timing of today’s launch is less about readiness and more about image-building. “The government wants to showcase progress under the Smart City Mission, even if the reality is far from complete,” said a civic activist.
For now, Jalandhar’s residents will only see challans generated at 13 junctions. The larger promise of a fully integrated surveillance and civic management system — to improve traffic, reduce accidents, and modernise governance — remains a distant dream.
ICCC Project at a Glance
Total Cost: Rs 116 crore
Awarded Cost: Rs 77.98 crore (M/s KEC International Ltd.)
Building Cost: Rs 1.67 crore (completed Sept 2020 as per MC files)
Planned Components: 1,218 CCTV cameras, 20 adaptive traffic signals, ANPR cameras, PA & VMS systems, solid waste & disaster monitoring, streetlights, water/air sensors
Original Deadline: Dec 2022
Extended Deadline: Mar 2024 (overshot)
Current Status: Partial rollout — only 13 junctions covered
