Bhubaneswar, Dec. 19: The Saheed Nagar police station has become the first such facility to boast of a biometric attendance system.

An official posted at the police station said the move was aimed to keep tabs on the personnel, especially those on patrol duty.

"Some cops have been found leaving for home earlier than the mandated eight-hour schedule," he said.

The biometric attendance system installed at the Saheed Nagar police station is an initiative of one of the officers, who is posted there.

Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi lauded the initiative of the police station and said it might be replicated shortly in other police stations based on its success.

Saheed Nagar police station covers 14sqkm and caters to a population of approximately two lakh. It has four outposts, located at Saheed Nagar, Sainik School, Vani Vihar and VSS Nagar.

There are at least 25 policemen, including constables and habildars who patrol the area within its jurisdiction on a daily basis.

The new biometric system requires all those posted at the station to register their fingerprints at the start and end of the shift.

Earlier, those on patrolling duty did not come to the police station either at the start or end of their shifts. "The biometric system also aims to ensure that the attendance record of all personnel posted at the spot is maintained," the official said.

At the police station, 38 home guards are posted who, apart from their patrol job, also regulate traffic in the area.

The Saheed Nagar police station was set up in 1974. Areas such as Utkal University Vani Vihar, Rama Devi Women's University, Industrial Development Corporation Odisha (Idco) tower, Nicco Park, Census office and reserve police office also fall within the its jurisdiction.

Gyanendra Mishra, 62, a retired police official, said the area frequently witnessed students' unrest and needed sufficient police personnel on the field.

"The police station covers one of the most important areas of the state capital. It augurs well for the police administration to keep a track of policemen on duty to ensure that it is not caught off-guard during emergency situations," he said.

Saheed Nagar resident Sambit Patra, 56, welcomed the move to install biometric attendance systems.

"It is true that the city policemen are overworked. But like other sectors, the police should also keep a track of its personnel," he said.

Appreciating the police station's prompt responsiveness during emergencies, Patra said the move was positive and needed to be replicated at other police stations across Bhubaneswar.