The Government of Delhi has decided to replace nearly 1.4 lakh Chinese-made CCTV cameras installed across the national capital as part of a broader security review of the city's surveillance infrastructure.
The move primarily targets devices supplied by Chinese technology firm Hikvision, officials said.
According to Parvesh Sahib Singh, the decision follows recent directives issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which has barred the sale and use of CCTV systems of Chinese origin from 1 April due to national security considerations.
The Public Works Department Delhi, which manages the capital's extensive CCTV network, will carry out the replacement in phases.
The upgraded systems are expected to comply with the latest technical standards while providing stronger data protection and a more reliable supply and maintenance ecosystem.
Officials confirmed that around 50,000 cameras will be replaced in the first phase of the programme.
Singh described the move as a "clear course correction", adding that every Chinese-made device previously installed will eventually be substituted with more secure and trusted alternatives.
Delhi currently has more than 2.74 lakh CCTV cameras installed under PWD initiatives rolled out in multiple phases.
Of these, approximately 1.4 lakh units, installed between September 2020 and November 2022-are of Chinese origin. The remaining cameras, installed between June 2025 and March 2026, were sourced from non-Chinese manufacturers.
Singh criticised the previous administration for deploying the equipment without assessing security risks, saying, "The AAP installed Chinese Hikvision cameras across Delhi without thinking about its long-term security implications. When you deploy such systems across an entire city, you are making a national security choice. Unfortunately, the AAP failed to recognise that."