ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will install close-circuit video cameras at different public places in the capital with an estimated cost of Rs3.3 million , director electrical and mechanical in the authority Ibrar Hussain Shah told Dawn on Sunday.

He said the PC-1 of the project had been sent to the federal cabinet for final approval. The CDA board, he said, had already approved the project to upgrade the traffic and security system in Islamabad.

He said the decision regarding installation of close-circuit cameras was taken under a new security plan to monitor vehicular movement and to tighten security in the city. The cameras will be installed at weekly bazaars, prominent buildings, Blue Area, Super Market, Jinnah Super, Aabpara, Zero Point, Faizabad etc.

The CDA has invited interested parties to submit their applications for the project, the official said. He said a central control room would be established at Rescue-15 centre to monitor the system. The system will be helpful in investigating the causes of accidents and other cases. The project will also help improve the flow of traffic.

Meanwhile, the capital administration on Thursday directed the managements of all banks, educational institutions, government and private organizations, cinema halls and commercial plazas to install close-circuit TV cameras at their buildings to monitor the movement of suspicious people.

In this regard, notices have been issued to the respective administrations, Deputy Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Pirzada told Dawn.

Responding to a query, he said the capital administration would also install explosive device/material detectors at all entry points of Islamabad to avoid any terrorist attack.

The official said directives had also been issued for installation of cameras at all churches in the city. All security agencies, he aid, had also been directed to train their security guards in a way that they could foil any attempt of terrorism.

He said security had been beefed up at all sensitive places. "Earlier, two security guards had been deployed, now we have increased their number by five to six," the official said.

"Random checking of vehicles at all entry points has also been started for security purpose which may cause problems to the citizens, but in the prevailing circumstances, we are compel to take such steps," the official said.