The storage capacity of CCTV cameras installed at Tribhuvan International Airport has been fully upgraded for 61 days storage. Previously, there were reports that CCTV footage at the airport had not been retained for more than 21 days.
The escalating number of illicit activities in the vicinity of the airport has become a significant cause for concern. The alarming issue is compounded by the apparent inability of airport authorities to furnish CCTV footage to assist in investigations. The lax approach towards such matters by an international airport, which caters to thousands of passengers daily, is disconcerting.
Within the airport premises, around 500 CCTV cameras have been installed, and the authorities acknowledge that some of the storage has been kept for only 21 days. However, the office now informs that this has been extended to 61 days.
The General Manager of the Airport, Pratap Babu Tiwari, had mentioned earlier that the storage capacity had been limited to three months until recently, with 29 days being the maximum at one point. He stated that 36 hard disks with a total capacity of 16 terabytes have been used for this purpose. This decision was made in a meeting held on Ashoj 27, 2080.
Previously, the airport had requested a budget to increase the storage capacity for three months in the fiscal year 2078/79, but the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal did not allocate the budget, citing the impact of COVID-19.
While the installation of CCTV cameras inside the airport premises falls under the airport administration, the operation and surveillance tasks are carried out by the Nepal Police within the airport premises, as mentioned by the airport administration.
Director General Tiwari has also mentioned that information on the subject has been made available up to the present date. Earlier, the Airports Department had reported that footage beyond 21 days was not retained.
According to General Manager Tiwari, more than 170 organizations are operational within the airport premises.
Link to Previous relating article: https://aviationinnepal.com/tia-and-caans-negligence-no-cctv-footage-inside-tia-to-investigate-the-gold-smuggling/
