The Chhattisgarh government is now mulling extending the police commissioner system to Durg and Bilaspur as well after the police commissioner system was introduced in Raipur.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma pointed out that the call for a police commissioner system had been felt over the years in the state, especially in urban areas with their growing population where the administrative coordination was often hampered by multiple departments in the decision making process.
In an interview with the media, Sharma said the commissioner system has been instrumental in bringing in efficiency in police and administrative processes in Raipur, thereby minimising delays in the administration of civic and law and order affairs. Under the previous system, many smaller matters would have been delayed for a long time as approvals would go from one department to another and from one authority to another, he said.
The deputy chief minister went on to say that the government now thinks that it should be expanded based on the needs of urban development and population growth. He confirmed that he would seek the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s help to implement the commissioner system in Durg and Bilaspur also.
The police commissioner system assigns more administrative and executive functions to senior police officers, thereby speeding up the decision-making process in the areas of law, traffic and public safety. The authorities hope it will help agencies to better coordinate their efforts and enhance police operations in the state’s big cities.
The idea remains in discussion and more talks will be held before the final decision is made in the state government.