BHUBANESWAR: In its fourth year, Commissionerate of Police is turning its focus on technological solutions to improve policing as well as delivery of services in the Twin Cities. Plans are afoot to centralise its services and make them available on web platforms so that people do not have to go through multiple access points.
The Commissionerate of Police has already started talks with software firms for systems’ development so that Internet as well as telephony-based solutions can be devised. Currently, people have to turn up at police stations and then put in applications at different levels to seek a host of services, including certificates for passport, employment and arms licence.
“Since the Commissionerate has to make do with a substantial shortfall in manpower, we have to replace it with technology. For systems’ development, we are already in talks with Tata Consultancy Services,” Police Commissioner Bijay Kumar Sharma said at the Fourth Commemoration Day of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate of Police here on Monday.
The Commissionerate has already put forth proposals for ‘Safe City’ under which over 450 CCTVs are slated to be installed across the City to keep a vigilant eye on the anti-social and criminal elements.
Besides, the mobile control room, which has become a lifeline for policing, will need upgradation in keeping with the changing demography and urbanisation profile “While digitisation of services will improve performance, it will also lessen human interference and enable police to deliver time-bound services,” Sharma said.
CHENNAI MODEL: CRPF Director-General K Vijay Kumar shared his experience as Police Commissioner of Chennai with the police officers of the two cities. Kumar, who inspected the commemoration day parade, also addressed ACPs and inspectors later.
The CRPF boss said a ‘rowdy-control system’ had helped crack down on anti-social elements in Chennai. Such elements were categorised and responsibility was fixed on officers to monitor their activities on a monthly basis. Similarly, conventional rounds by police and creation of police clubs enhanced the performance. Earlier during his address, Kumar said the State Police’s coordination with CRPF has been paying rich dividends in the anti-Maoist operations.
Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj, who was the brain behind introduction of the Orissa Urban Policing Act, 2003, spoke about the challenges of urbanisation. Prizes were given away to meritorious police officers by the CRPF top cop on the occasion.