Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has officially implemented the police commissionerate system in Raipur, bringing significant administrative and operational changes to law enforcement in the state capital. Senior IPS officer Dr. Sanjeev Shukla (2004 batch, Chhattisgarh cadre) has been appointed as Raipur’s first Police Commissioner, assuming full responsibility for law and order in the city from January 23, 2026.
Under the new structure, Raipur’s urban areas will fall under the Raipur Urban Police District, led by an Inspector General–rank officer serving as the Commissioner of Police. Meanwhile, the Raipur Rural Police District will remain under the supervision of a Superintendent of Police.
Raipur Urban District
The Urban Police District will oversee 21 police stations within Raipur city and Birgaon municipality. These stations include Civil Lines, Devendra Nagar, Telibandha, Kotwali, Ganj, Gudhiyari, Gol Bazar, Purani Basti, D.D. Nagar, Azad Chowk, Amanaka, Saraswati Nagar, Kabir Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, Mujgahan, Tikrapara, Urla (inside Birgaon municipal limits), Khamtarai, Khallari, Pandri, and Khamhardih.
The Rural Police District will cover 12 police stations serving the surrounding rural and semi-urban areas, including Kharora, Simga, Tilda–Nevra, Mandir Hasaud, Arang, Abhanpur, Gobra, Nawapara, and other designated rural stations.
New Hierarchy and Powers Under Commissionerate System
Under the new system:
- 42 officers will be posted across 21 police stations, including IPS officers, ASPs, DSPs, and TIs.
- ACPs (Assistant Commissioners of Police) and Additional DCPs will now exercise powers traditionally held by SDMs, including presiding over police courts.
- Permissions for protests, processions, and demonstrations will now be granted by the Police Commissioner.
Call signs and designations have been updated for operational efficiency:
- Police Commissioner: Alpha
- Additional DCP: Delta
- ACP/DSP: Charlie
- SHO/TI: Sigma
- Sub-Inspector: Bravo
Zones and Office Locations in Raipur
The Raipur district has been divided into three zones for the commissionerate:
- Zone-1 (Raipur Central): Civil Lines and Kotwali sub-divisions, 7 police stations.
- Zone-2 (Raipur West): Purani Basti, Azad Chowk, Rajendra Nagar sub-divisions, 9 police stations.
- Zone-3 (Raipur North): Urla and Pandri sub-divisions, 5 police stations.
Offices of Key Officers:
- Police Commissioner & Additional Police Commissioner: Divisional Commissioner’s office, GE Road.
- DCP/Additional DCP Raipur Central: Civil Line C-4.
- DCP/Additional DCP Raipur West: Above Amanaka Police Station Complex.
- DCP/Additional DCP Raipur North: Urla.
- Rural SP: Atal Nagar.
Appointments in the New Commissionerate
Additional DCPs of the Zones:
- Raipur Central: ASP Tarkeshwar Patel
- Raipur West: ASP Daulatram Porte
- Raipur North: ASP Akash Markam
Other Key ACPs/DCPs:
- Traffic: Prashant Shukla
- Crime: Sandeep Mittal
- Civil Line ACP: Ramakant
- Kotwali ACP: Deepak Mishra
- Urla ACP: Poornima
- Purani Basti ACP: Devansh Rathore
Rural Areas and Police Jurisdiction
- Several rural areas have been included in the commissionerate.
- Mujgahan police station area has 20 gram panchayats, Kabir Nagar has 5, Amanaka has 3.
The move has raised concerns about resource allocation and policing efficiency.
Police Strength and Wireless Communication Updates
- Current wireless sets: ~1,200; additional 100 sets to be procured for expanded staff.
- Traffic police currently have about 50 sets.
- Call sign system updated for better coordination among officers.
Challenges and Discrepancies
Each police station ideally requires 75 personnel, but currently has only 30–35, risking understaffing.
Two policing systems in the district may lead to fragmented command and ineffective resource distribution.
The Home Department has not yet implemented recommendations for a unified system across Raipur, as proposed by a committee led by ADG Pradeep Gupta.
Legal Framework and Future Amendments
The Chhattisgarh Police Act currently lacks provisions for urban commissionerates.
The Home Department plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming Assembly session to legally formalize the commissionerate system.
There is a growing demand to implement the system across the entire Raipur district, potentially creating a Raipur City SP and a Rural SP structure.
Implementation Model
- The system follows the Bhopal-Indore model rather than full district coverage due to manpower constraints.
- Officers note that the arbitrary division of zones and inclusion of rural areas may dilute operational efficiency.
Summary
The Raipur Police Commissionerate system, effective from January 23, 2026, marks a historic reform in urban policing in Chhattisgarh. With Dr. Sanjeev Shukla as the first Police Commissioner, the city now has a modernized law enforcement structure, independent police courts, and delegated powers for ACPs and DCPs. However, challenges remain regarding staffing shortages, jurisdictional discrepancies, and implementation across rural-urban areas.
