Bhubaneswar: Managing Director of Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) and 1982-batch IPS officer Binoy Kumar Behera was on Friday appointed as the first Police Commissioner of the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. With his appointment, the Police Commissionerate system for the twin cities has begun to function. However, no notification was yet issued for the appointment of the Additional and Deputy Police Commissioners. Behera will remain in overall charge of the police force operating in the twin cities.

In order to make police force more professional and free from political interference in the two cities, the State Legislative Assembly had passed the Orissa Urban Police Bill in 2003. Later, it was sent to Delhi for Presidential assent.

After a lot of pressure exerted on the Centre and repeated requests by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the President finally gave the assent to the Bill only a month back.

Under the new Police Commissionerate, two Additional Police Commissioners in the rank of IG will remain in charge of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, respectively. Under them, Deputy Police Commissioner in the rank of SPs will be functioning. They will be entrusted with magisterial powers under the new Act. For the rural areas of Khurda and Cuttack, separate SPs will be appointed.