CCTV Pilot Project at an EHV Switchyard
Client:
Location:
Commissioned:
Application:
Technology:
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)
Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
2005
EHV Substation Surveillance
Analog PTZ CCTV
Project Overview:
Commissioned in 2005, this pilot project deployed analog PTZ CCTV surveillance across POWERGRID's Bhiwadi 220 kV and 400 kV switchyards, demonstrating the feasibility of remote visual monitoring for EHV substations.
Project Scope:
The scope of the project was to design, implement, and commission a pilot CCTV surveillance system capable of providing continuous remote visual monitoring of POWERGRID's Bhiwadi EHV switchyard. The deployment was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of CCTV technology for monitoring critical substation infrastructure, improve operator situational awareness, and establish a scalable surveillance architecture suitable for future utility installations.
Engineering Challenge:
Deploying electronic surveillance equipment within an EHV substation presents unique engineering challenges. The presence of high-voltage equipment, switching operations, and strong electromagnetic fields requires careful system design to maintain reliable video transmission and PTZ control. Particular attention was given to cabling practices, equipment selection, grounding, and installation techniques appropriate for electrically harsh environments, where electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an important engineering consideration.
A further requirement was to enable remote viewing of the Bhiwadi system from Bahadurgarh over a PSTN telephone line. In 2005, this had no known precedent — remote video access over a standard telephone line was not something anyone else was doing at the time.
Solution:
To achieve these objectives, Sam Infotech designed, supplied, installed, tested, commissioned, and integrated a complete analog PTZ CCTV surveillance system comprising:
• 4 × Samsung SPD-1600 Analog PTZ Cameras
• 2 covering the 400 kV switchyard
• 2 covering the 220 kV switchyard
• PC-based Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
• RG-6 coaxial cable for video transmission
• RS-485 PTZ communication
• High-quality BNC connectors
• Complete system integration, testing and commissioning
The system architecture was developed to provide dependable surveillance while ensuring reliable operation within the demanding electrical environment of an EHV substation.
Outcome:
The successful implementation demonstrated the practicality of CCTV-based remote surveillance for Extra High Voltage substations in India. As an early reference deployment, the project highlighted the operational value of remote visual monitoring for critical power infrastructure and further strengthened Sam Infotech's expertise in delivering surveillance solutions for the Indian power transmission sector.
Remote viewing of the Bhiwadi switchyard from Bahadurgarh over a PSTN telephone line was successfully achieved — a capability with no known precedent at the time, in 2005.