The project involves enchancement of the 17-year-old CCTV
surveillance systems in use at SMRT stations with more than 120
digital videorecording (DVR) systems from MarchNetworks. Each of
the 4000 Series DVRs will provide high speed, high resolution video
and supports up to 16 cameras and 1.2 TB of internal storage. They
can be integrated seamlessly with existing and new CCTV cameras.
OConnors Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the systems integrator selected
for the entire digital CCTV system expansion. The first phase of
the overall SMRT project is expected to continue throughout 2004,
with further phases planned for completion in 2006.
Let's take a look at the history of this CCTV row (news are
copyright of respective news agency, which are acknowledged):
Aug 20, 2004:
Channel 8 News reported that the CCTV video recording systems are
up at both Pasir Ris and Tampines MRT stations. There was also
filming on the data centre used to store the images. But how many
days the footage will be stored will be kept a secret for security
purposes.
Aug 18, 2004:
SMRT should consider widening the safety zone - the distance
between the yellow line and the edge of the platform - in stations
with open platforms.
If it had been wider, the recent accident at Bukit Batok Station
could have been averted. Mr Richard Chua could still have remained
on the platform after he fell and be pulled to safety by other
commuters.
With the present narrow safety zone, there is simply no way to fall
without falling onto the track.
In driving, we are taught to keep at least 1m away from a
stationary object. This is a reasonable safety zone. Why is it that
this rule does not apply to trains? This safety improvement is very
inexpensive to implement, nothing like a $280 million safety-door
system. - ST
August 16, 2004:
With the first recording closed circuit television (CCTV) system at
the Pasir Ris MRT station due to come into operation this week, a
second man in just over a fortnight fell off an open platform onto
the train tracks on Saturday afternoon.
While Warrant Officer Richard Chua, 47, survived being run over by
four train carriages at the Bukit Batok MRT station, the incident
lent emphasis to questions raised by the death of Mr Tan Keng Boon
on July 28.
Yesterday, a relative of Mr Chua told Today that the father of four
was "in stable condition" at the National University
Hospital.
NewsRadio 93.8 reported that he had undergone surgeries for his
injuries his toes were crushed, he suffered some cuts and he could
feel no pain in his lower body.
On whether safety measures on open MRT platforms should be shored
up, such as through the installation of safety barriers, the
relative said: "We prefer to leave this to the public to suggest.
As victims, we do not feel it is appropriate for us to
comment."
Some commuters were more eager to speak. Mr Lim Boon Hee wrote to
Today, saying: "These major lapses cause extreme inconvenience to
thousands of commuters and yet the regulating authority still takes
a benign stance on the SMRT's apparent inability or refusal to find
a solution to rectify their open MRT stations from becoming death
threats.
"Perhaps they have done their calculations and concluded it is
cheaper to have train disruptions and charter buses than to spend
some money erecting protective barriers at the open
stations."
On Saturday, SMRT Corporation deployed 12 buses to ferry some 4,000
affected passengers.
In an earlier response to letters published in Today, the SMRT
noted that that installing platform screen doors would cost an
estimated $250 million. There are 35 open platform MRT stations
along SMRT's North-South and East-West lines.
"This high capital outlay would have to be funded by commuters,
which we would like to avoid. We will therefore continue to explore
other more cost--effective solutions," SMRT said in its
letter.
Reader Neo Wei Zong suggested having train captains "reduce the
speed of the train to a crawl as they approach the station",
avoiding serious injury "even if the train knocks into
something".
Yesterday, Mr Goh Chee Kong, vice-president of corporate
communications at the SMRT, said: "There is always public pressure
for us to do more and we are looking into the matter. We have to
let the investigations bear out first and take things in their
perspective."
Preliminary findings in Saturday's incident suggest there was no
foul play. Mr Chua's wife told reporters that he had been "very
tired" lately and could have fainted.
The past 11 years have seen at least eight cases of people involved
in accidents at open station platforms on the MRT and LRT system.
By October, cameras capable of
recording will be in place at all elevated MRT station
platforms. - TODAY
