LUCKNOW, Oct. 2 -- For nearly 12 hours on Tuesday, Safe City cameras installed under the Lucknow Smart City project went offline after internet and power supply were disconnected over non-payment of dues, raising concerns about surveillance in the state capital. The blackout began around 1 am and services were restored by about 12 pm, officials confirmed. "The Safe City system could not record or retrieve any data during this outage," an official aware of the matter said. According to officials, the internet service provider suspended connectivity after Lucknow Smart City Ltd failed to clear pending bills. This is the third such disruption in recent months, with sources warning that repeated blackouts not only weaken policing but also leave gaps in crime investigations, as footage during the offline periods cannot be retrieved. Earlier, HT had reported that 1,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras at 200 prime locations face the risk of being switched off, as dues of over Rs.8.43 crore remain pending with the private agency operating the system. The dues include around Rs.7.22 crore for operational services between April 2024 and June 2025, Rs.69.69 lakh under a change control note, and Rs.51.35 lakh in electricity bills....