DUSHANBE, November 1, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Thursday October 31, President Emomali Rahmon took part in a ceremony to begin the operation of the traffic surveillance system in Dushanbe.  The ceremony was held in the building of the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Some 850 traffic surveillance cameras have reportedly been installed around the city.

The traffic surveillance system was launched in the Tajik capital within the framework of the Safe City Project, which is part of the electronic government.  The Safe City Project reportedly consists of the following components: management center; video surveillance system; electronic police; and “interception” system, which will be installed at twelve entrances and exits of the Tajik capital.

Tajik officials have praised the system for its potential to monitor traffic and resolve disputes arising from accidents.  Tajik law enforcement authorities, for their part, have said that the system will also help maintain law and order on the streets.

We will recall that Tajik Ministry of Finance and China’s Export-Import Bank (China Exim Bank) signed a loan agreement on implementation of the Safe City Project in Beijing on May 20 this year.  The Safe City Project provides for installation of cameras across Dushanbe for round-the-clock monitoring of movement at all important locations such as crossroads, streets and squares.

An estimated budget for implementation of the project is 22 million USD, including a 20.9 million USD loan from China’s Exim Bank.  The loan is reportedly repayable within twenty years due to fines that will be paid by traffic offenders.

China''s Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd installed the traffic surveillance system in Dushanbe.

Transportation system will use video surveillance on streets to regulate traffic flows and keep track of any disturbances.  The project also provides for working out an electronic map of the Tajik capital that will allow ensuring regularity of work of public transport in the city.