Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Home Department has raised serious concerns over a proposal submitted by the State Police Headquarters to bifurcate the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District (UPD) into separate East and West units, seeking detailed clarification from Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania before considering the restructuring plan.
In a communication sent to the DGP, the department pointed out several deficiencies in the proposal, including the absence of crucial manpower data and insufficient justification for creating additional posts. The move has effectively put the proposed expansion under scrutiny and may delay any decision on restructuring the police district.
Home Department Seeks Comprehensive Manpower Data
One of the primary concerns raised by the Home Department relates to the lack of information regarding the sanctioned strength of personnel, the number of officers and staff currently in position, and existing vacancies within Bhubaneswar UPD and across Odisha Police.
Officials noted that without such data, it would be difficult to assess whether the demand for additional manpower stems from an actual structural deficiency or whether the existing shortages could be addressed simply by filling vacant positions.
“Without this data, it is not possible to assess if additional posts are required to meet a genuine structural shortfall or whether filling existing vacancies would suffice. Creation of new posts amidst unfilled vacancies will widen the vacancy position further,” the department reportedly stated in its letter.
Questions Raised Over Need for Additional Posts
The fresh proposal reportedly seeks the creation of 98 new posts as part of the bifurcation exercise.
However, the Home Department has questioned the necessity of creating these posts without first evaluating the current deployment and vacancy position.
Officials have also asked whether any existing positions would be abolished or surrendered if the new posts are approved.
“It must be specified whether any existing posts are proposed to be abolished or surrendered in lieu of the 98 new proposed posts,” the department said.
The concern stems from the broader issue of manpower management within the police force, where the creation of additional sanctioned positions could further increase vacancy levels if recruitment and deployment do not keep pace.
Existing UPD Has Managed Major Events for Years, Says Department
The Home Department also examined the rationale cited by Police Headquarters for splitting the Bhubaneswar UPD.
According to the proposal, factors such as rising crime, increasing economic offences, VIP movements, traffic congestion, law-and-order challenges, and the growing administrative burden in the capital city necessitated bifurcation.
However, the department observed that many of the challenges highlighted are not permanent structural issues but temporary and periodic duties that have traditionally been managed under the existing police framework.
These include:
- VVIP and VIP visits
- National and international events
- Festival-related security arrangements
- Traffic management during major occasions
Officials noted that Bhubaneswar UPD has successfully handled such responsibilities for years without requiring a structural split.
Clarification Sought on Contingency Deployments
The Home Department further pointed out that incidents involving communal tensions, student unrest, protests, and eviction drives are contingency-based situations that are not unique to Bhubaneswar.
As a result, it has asked Police Headquarters to explain how police personnel are currently deployed for such situations and whether the existing mechanism has proven inadequate.
The department specifically sought details on whether requisitioning manpower from Police Headquarters and other districts had ever failed during major law-and-order situations.
“The proposal does not explain how police force is currently arranged for each category of event cited,” the department reportedly observed.
Demand for Data on Non-Routine Policing Duties
To better assess the proposal, the Home Department has requested empirical evidence demonstrating the workload faced by Bhubaneswar UPD personnel.
Officials have asked for details regarding the proportion of working days spent on:
- Regular policing duties
- Investigation and crime prevention
- Traffic management
- Non-routine assignments such as VIP security and special events
The department believes such information is necessary to determine whether the existing police structure is genuinely overstretched.
Comparative Crime Analysis Sought
The Home Department has also asked Police Headquarters to provide a comparative analysis of crime statistics across Odisha’s police districts.
Officials indicated that any proposal involving structural expansion should be supported by objective evidence showing that Bhubaneswar faces policing challenges significantly different from those encountered elsewhere in the state.
The comparative data is expected to help determine whether a separate East-West police district structure is justified.
Change in Bifurcation Model Raises Questions
Another issue highlighted by the department concerns the shift in the proposed bifurcation model.
Earlier, the Finance Department had reportedly agreed to the creation of 87 posts for dividing Bhubaneswar UPD on a North-South basis.
However, that proposal did not receive final approval from the state government.
The latest proposal instead seeks to split the police district into East and West units while simultaneously increasing the number of proposed posts from 87 to 98.
The Home Department has asked Police Headquarters to justify both the revised geographical model and the additional manpower requirement.
Original Proposal by Police Commissioner
The proposal for restructuring Bhubaneswar UPD was first put forward last year by Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh.
The Commissioner had recommended dividing the police district into East and West units, each headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
According to the proposal, the restructuring was aimed at improving policing efficiency in response to:
- Rising urban crime
- Growth in economic offences
- Increasing law-and-order responsibilities
- Frequent VIP and VVIP movements
- Expanding urban population
- Traffic congestion and mobility challenges
Supporters of the plan argue that a smaller and more focused administrative structure would enable faster decision-making, better supervision, and improved public service delivery.
Decision Likely After Detailed Review
With the Home Department seeking extensive clarifications and supporting data, the proposal is likely to undergo a detailed review before any final decision is taken.
Officials indicated that the government wants to ensure that any expansion of the police establishment is backed by objective evidence, operational necessity, and efficient manpower utilisation.
The fate of the proposed bifurcation of Bhubaneswar Urban Police District will now depend largely on the additional information and justification submitted by Police Headquarters in response to the Home Department’s queries.
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