Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9: Police personnel on duty at major tourist destinations in the state will shortly shed their khaki uniform to don a new colour code.

The government had approached the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to give the cops a sartorial makeover and the institute has already sent a detailed project proposal to the government for approval. It includes suggestions regarding the colour code and uniform fabric.

“The fabric has to be proper and comfortable. For the beaches in Puri, the fabric should be such that it can withstand corrosion. Also it has to be cost-effective,” a senior NIFT official said.

Prodded about the proposed colour code, the NIFT official remained mum. He, however, said that if NIFT’s proposal was accepted, the institute would rope in weavers from Sambalpur and Sonepur for the job.

“The word ‘police’ itself makes one uncomfortable. There is some sort of fear psychosis attached to the khaki dress donned by police officials. The uniform that we are planning to design it in a way that it appears people-friendly. The entire look should be such that it sends across the message ‘We are here to help you’,” the NIFT official said.

This year, nearly 100 trained home guards have been deployed on the beaches of Puri by the state home department. Sources said the tourism department was planning to augment the “tourist police project” with the help of Central funds.

“They are not exactly tourist police, but have been trained by a private organisation for the purpose of maintaining security. After the implementation of the pilot project at Puri, we plan to engage such trained manpower at other places of tourist importance,” said special secretary of the home department Lalit Das.