In a bid to address security concerns, the Public Works Department (PWD) has begun the removal of 1.4 lakh old cameras in a phased manner that were installed by the earlier government in the national capital.The city currently has a network of 2.74 lakh CCTV cameras installed by PWD under two phases, 1.4 lakh in phase 1 from September 2020 – November 2022 and 1.34 cameras under phase 2 from June 2025 – March 2026.The cameras under phase 1, which were installed by a Chinese firm Hikvision, a company that has faced global scrutiny over security concerns, will be replaced.Speaking on the matter, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said, “The Aam Aadmi Party installed Chinese Hikvision cameras across Delhi without thinking about the long-term security implications. Surveillance infrastructure is not just about visibility, it is about control over sensitive data.”He added ,“This was not a routine procurement decision. When you deploy such systems across an entire city, you are making a national security choice. Unfortunately, the Aam Aadmi Party failed to recognise that.”Detailing the government’s decision and the challenges faced on the ground, the minister said that a decision was taken to phase out a significant portion of the CCTV cameras installed across the city, particularly those sourced from Chinese firms, in line with recent government directives and broader security considerations.“Therefore, we will be gradually replacing cameras with updated systems that meet current technical standards, offer better data security and are supported by a robust supply and service ecosystem. The transition will be carried out in a phased manner to avoid any disruption in surveillance coverage, which is being simultaneously rationalised,” the minister added.The minister mentioned that the government has approved the replacement of 50,000 Chinese cameras installed in the first phase and the remaining will also be removed in the next phase.Drawing a clear contrast in governance approach, the minister stated, “For them, it was about numbers and publicity. For us, it is about security, accountability and protecting Delhi’s citizens without any compromise.”Officials confirmed that the replacement will be carried out in phases to ensure no disruption in surveillance coverage, while upgrading the system to meet stricter security standards.