New police stations expected to offload burden on existing setup

Increase in city's population at 10 lakh, and 6.5 lakh vehicles call for immediate action

After much dillydallying, the State government has finally evinced interest in setting up four new police stations in the city, besides upgrading the existing two traffic stations to a full-fledged set up.

Following the recent announcement made on the floor of the House by Home Minister K J George in reply to the question of Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait, city police say that the wheel has been set in motion towards the fulfilment of a long pending demand.

Police Commissioner M A Saleem told Deccan Herald that it had been two decades since the last police station (law and order) was sanctioned for the city, and more than a decade that a traffic police station had been sanctioned.

The city has a population of around 10 lakh, with over half of the populace using 6.5 lakh vehicles. Saleem said that it was imperative to add police stations to the existing 16 law and order and three traffic police stations.

According to the statement made by the Home Minister, Alanahalli, Bogadi and Hebbal will be the new L and O stations, while Siddarthanagar will get a dedicated traffic station.

The existing V V Puram and Kuvempunagar traffic stations will be upgraded.
Nazarbad, which currently has Alanahalli, Saraswatipuram covering Bogadi and Hebbal covered by Vijayanagar are over burdened when compared to the measly sanctioned staff of 83 to 88 at each of the stations, against the extent of their limits.

The jurisdiction of Nazarbad is spread up to 12 square km, covering a population of 1.5 lakh -- from Government Guest House in the north to Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) grounds in the south, Hardinge Circle in the east and up to Chikkahalli on Mysore-T Narsipura road in the west close to 10 km away from the central business district (CBD).

Vital installations like Mysore Race Club (MRC), KEA, Mysore Milk Union Limited (Mymul), Defence Food Research Laboratory Limited (DFRL), office of the police commissioner, Government Guest House come under it.

If Alanahalli is carved out of Nazarbad, it may reduce the total area by six to seven square km for the latter with areas like parts of Siddarthanagar, Netaji Nagar, Sardar Vallababai Patel Nagar, Giryabhovi Palya, Giridarshini Layout, Alanahali, Choranahalli, Chikkahalli among few others coming under the new station in question.

Saraswatipuram station having Bogadi in its womb is spread up to 18 square km covering the population of 1.35 lakh. Among strategic locations, it has Government Textbook Printing Press,  Fire Station and Regional Telegraph and Training Centre. If Bogadi turns into a reality, it will be having Bogadi city and village both, Dasanakoppal and other up coming localities in the surroundings.

Similarly at Vijayanagar station, having the task of covering 2.15 lakh population in 15 square km, with Hebbal Industrial Area (HIA), software giant like Infosys to guard, besides Vijayanagar third and fourth stages. If Hebbal station is commissioned, industrial area, Hootagalli, border of Belagola and KRS police station will be separated from Vijayanagar.

For traffic, the planned Siddarthanagar is expected to ease the load of Lashkar police station, a branch of Devaraja traffic station. According to an officer, Hotel Lalithamahal Palace helipad, Karnataka Police Academy (KPA) building, Government Guest House and the recent addition of yet to be dedicated Mini Vidhana Soudha among others witness heavy VIP movements. Kuvempunagar and V V Puram branches of K R and N R Traffic police stations respectively, if made a full-fledged facility, will help concentrate on the growing area under their limits.

Law & order

* Nazarbad: 12 sq km (Alanahalli to be carved out)
* Saraswathipuram: 18 sq km (Bogadi)
*Vijayanagar: 15 sq km (Hebbal)

Traffic

* Siddarthanagar PS (Covered by Lashkar traffic)
* V V Puram and Kuvempunagar to be upgraded