Daily Vehicle Thefts Continue Unchecked in Agartala Smart City: Police Struggle Without Access to Smart City CCTV Footage

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 11, 2025

A growing number of vehicle and bicycle thefts have been reported across Agartala, even in areas under the surveillance of the Smart City’s CCTV network. Despite the presence of cameras installed by the Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL), police officials allege that they are unable to retrieve footage from the system, severely hampering investigations.

According to police sources, the city’s law enforcement has been relying primarily on privately installed CCTV cameras, those maintained by local shops, offices, and residents, instead of the official Smart City infrastructure. Officers admit that technical or access issues have prevented them from obtaining footage from the Smart City cameras, which are expected to cover major intersections and public areas.In a recent case, one Shri Prithviraj Ghosh reported that his bicycle was stolen on Sunday night around 8:31 p.m. from outside Vidya Bharati Computer Academy near Advisor Chowmuhani in Agartala. The theft occurred right in front of a Smart City CCTV camera.The victim, who resides at Krishnagar Banerjee Para, Sanitala, Agartala (PIN 799001), immediately filed a complaint at Paschim Thana Police Station. Later, he shared CCTV footage from nearby private cameras on social media, appealing to the public for help in identifying the thief and recovering his bicycle.Ghosh’s post highlighted a concerning pattern of repeated thefts allegedly committed by the same individual in the area. “It will be greatly appreciated if anyone can help me find my stolen bicycle and the person seen in the footage who took it,” he wrote, urging police authorities to take stronger action to prevent such crimes.

Residents have increasingly voiced frustration over the apparent ineffectiveness of the Smart City’s surveillance system. Many argue that despite crores being spent on camera installations, the system has not yet delivered the intended results of enhancing public safety.

Citizens and local organizations are calling upon both Agartala Smart City Limited and the Tripura Police to coordinate effectively to ensure that the Smart City CCTV network functions properly and helps restore confidence in urban security measures.

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