Bhubaneswar: If you wish to take out a marriage procession, police are planning to make the licence process much easier with the introduction of online application.

A cop said applicants seeking licence for a marriage procession will have to visit the commissionerate police website and fill up necessary details. The police had granted around 800 marriage procession licences in 2017.

"At present, an applicant has to collect form from the licensing cell of the deputy commissioner of police's (DCP) office and submit it in the police station concerned and the office of the assistant commissioner of police for clearance. After approval of the police station and concerned assistant commissioner of police (ACP), the licence is granted," said a police official.

"The whole process takes three to four days. But once the online system is introduced, it will take one to two days to grant the licence. There will be no need to visit the police station or the ACP's office," he added.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said that in the first stage they would receive the license fee though drafts. "In the coming days, we will also make provision for online payment of the license fee for marriage processions. A meeting to introduce the online application system will be held soon."

The police now charge Rs 100 for licence fee and another Rs 200 for use of loudspeakers during marriage procession. The police have also made indemnity (surety) bond mandatory for marriage processions from January 1.

A police official, however, said: "The applicants will not have to waste time visiting police stations. But they have to submit the surety bond that makes them liable to maintain peace or else pay compensation in lieu of damage to any public or private property during processions."

In another initiative, the police also plan to upload a link of recovered vehicles and mobile phones on its official website - bhubaneswarcuttackpolice.gov.in.

"The registration numbers, along with engine and chassis numbers, will be uploaded on the website that will help people trace their stolen property," said a cop.