Chattogram to get AI-based CCTV and smart street lighting for safer, tech-driven city

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched an initiative to transform the city into a safe and technology-driven urban area by installing smart streetlights and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based surveillance system. 

The project, titled "Implementation of Smart Lighting (Solar/Non-Solar) with AI-Based CCTV Surveillance System in Chattogram City Area for Ensuring a Smart and Safe City", aims to modernise city management and enhance public safety.

A four-member committee has already been formed to develop the project proposal (DPP). The committee is tasked with gathering necessary data, selecting priority roads, and preparing the DPP. The project is currently in the planning and proposal stage, with the road list prepared and the preliminary project framework being finalised. 

Officials said the list of major roads, intersections, bridges, and high-risk areas is nearly complete, with around 80% finalised. However, the city officials could not yet provide details about the project's cost, which will be disclosed once the DPP is finalised.

On 19 November, the City authority's Secretary, Md Ashraful Amin, issued an office order announcing the committee. Chief Supervising Engineer Abu Sadat Mohammad Tayeb was appointed as committee chair, with Executive Engineer Ashikul Islam and Assistant Engineer (Electrical) Md Sarwar Alam Khan as members. Executive Engineer (Electrical) Md Shafkat Bin Amin is serving as the member-secretary.

Officials said the initiative will not only illuminate the city but also improve security, patrolling, traffic management, and emergency services through an integrated infrastructural development approach. The city authority believes that implementing the project will lay the foundation for a modern digital monitoring system across the city.

According to city officers, once operational, the smart cameras and lighting system will help reduce crime, identify high-risk areas, monitor accidents, and manage crowds more effectively. Priority is being given to busy neighbourhoods, bridges, intersections, and transport routes. Moving towards a technology-driven security system will reduce the city's sole reliance on police for safety.

Additionally, the use of energy-efficient solar and non-solar technologies makes this an environmentally friendly initiative.

Md Shafkat Bin Amin, committee member-secretary and executive engineer (Electrical), told The Business Standard, "We are preparing the road list for CCTV and light installation. Nearly 80% of the list is complete. Our plan is to cover all 41 wards of the city, focusing first on the main roads and later on lanes and bylanes."

Chief Engineer Md Anisur Rahman Sohel said that although a previous streetlight project was launched in collaboration with India's EXIM Bank, it was never implemented. Under the new initiative, the DPP is being prepared, covering major roads across all 41 wards, with smart solar and non-solar lighting combined with CCTV surveillance on key routes.

Chattogram city Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said, "One of my key commitments was to make the city environmentally friendly and safe. Installing AI-based CCTV cameras across 41 wards will modernise city-wide security management. At the same time, solar-powered streetlights will save energy and reduce environmental pollution."

Previous smart lighting project halted after six months

The city authority had previously launched the "Modernisation of City Street Light System at Different Areas under CCC" project on 6 July 2024, aiming to illuminate 466 kilometres of city roads. The project, funded by India at roughly Tk261 crore, began work but was halted in December, five months after its start, on the instructions of the Local Government Ministry. 

CCC has since requested the ministry to resume the project in the public interest. The project is scheduled to continue until June 2026.

According to ERD data, Bangladesh and India have three Line of Credit (LoC) agreements totalling $736 million. This project was expected to receive approximately Tk261 crore from India's EXIM Bank under LoC-3, with the remaining Tk46.43 crore funded by the Bangladesh government.

As part of a sustainable energy initiative, the project began after a 2017 MoU between India's Energy Efficiency Services Limited and Bangladesh's Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the project on 9 July 2019, and a contract was signed with the Indian company, Shapoorji Pallonji, on 6 July 2023.

The plan included installing 20,600 LED lights, 20,267 GI poles, 507 control switch boxes, and other equipment across the 41 wards. However, the project stalled in July 2024 when Indian contractors left amid security concerns during the uprising. Subsequent changes in government and tensions in India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations further delayed the project.