Plan for experts’ unit to help modernise police

Bhubaneswar: A project management unit (PMU) manned by experts and consultants from different fields is likely to be set up in Odisha police to modernise the force with cutting-edge technology and provide technical knowhow for better policing.
“We have sent the proposal to the government for approval. The proposed unit is aimed at making an objective assessment of our existing policing system and facilitate proper implementation of the police-related work and projects. The expertise of people from different fields, including cyber security, traffic management and anti-narcotics enforcement can be tapped to make Odisha police more service-oriented for people,” director general of police Sunil Kumar Bansal told TOI.
Currently, different departments of the government have PMUs. The proposed PMU for Odisha police will be located in the state police headquarters.
According to the plan, the proposed PMU will be responsible for overall planning, monitoring, tracking budgets, in police modernisation and related activities of Odisha police. It will closely supervise the functioning of the government’s Mo Sarkar and 5T (transparency, teamwork, technology, timeframe and transformation) initiatives in Odisha police.
According to the proposal, the PMU will conduct crime mapping with the help of technology and help the police in identifying areas vulnerable to crimes like snatching, theft and robbery. There is a plan to engage the proposed PMU in preparing a roadmap for destruction of ganja (cannabis) plants in inaccessible and Maoist-affected areas in the state.
“We also hope to seek the help of experts to improve the standard of investigation and conviction rate,” a crime branch official said.