Food Corporation of India (FCI) is upgrading its surveillance capabilities by switching from an analog CCTV system to a modern IP-based system across its storage depots as part of the 100-day achievements under the Department of Food and Public Distribution. This project involves the installation of approximately 23,750 cameras in 561 FCI-owned depots.
The upgrade follows a successful Proof of Concept (POC) executed by the Quality Council of India at the FSD Shyamanagar depot. This advanced system will greatly improve monitoring through high-resolution imaging, scalability, and remote access.
The FCI plays a crucial role in India's food grain management, overseeing procurement, storage, and distribution to maintain the country's food security. Effective storage is essential for the Public Distribution System and various government welfare schemes. The organization manages over 500 depots nationwide, making efficient surveillance a critical need.
Over the years, FCI has steadily expanded its surveillance infrastructure. Starting with 61 depots in 2013-14, CCTV coverage increased to 67 in 2014-15, and by 2018, 446 depots were equipped with surveillance systems. Currently, 516 FCI depots have CCTV cameras, and live feeds from these cameras are accessible on the FCI website under the "See Your Depot" tab.
The new IP-based surveillance system will introduce advanced features, including onboard analytics for motion detection, camera tampering alerts, and other security enhancements. A centralized Command Control Centre (CCC) and a Network Operating Centre (NoC) will be established at FCI Headquarters, enabling real-time monitoring of system health and data storage.
In addition to video surveillance, the new system will pilot the use of environmental and humidity sensors to further enhance depot management. These sensors will provide critical data on environmental conditions, ensuring the optimal storage and preservation of food grains across the country.
