Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday inaugurated 35 model police stations across the state through vide-conferencing from the secretariat. These include Nandan Kanan police station in Bhubaneswar, Plant Site police station in Rourkela, Nalco police station in Angul and Sahadevkhuntia police station in Balasore district.

Naveen also inaugurated the Airport police station in the state capital for which the foundation stone had been laid in 2013. The 23rd police station in Bhubaneswar Urban Police District, it includes areas such as Pokhariput, Palaspali and Bhimatangi. The new police station assumes significance after the city airport got international status in April 2016.

The three-storey building, built at an estimated cost of Rs 2.15 crore, has all modern facilities — including a basement parking, ramp, one lift and one conference hall. The police said that a room had been earmarked in the three-storey police station building for creating a children’s corner. “A designer was roped in to create a children-friendly ambience in the room and the room has refreshment articles such as cartoon books. Drinking water facilities are also in the room,” said a police officer.

Naveen also flagged off 12 police control room vans for increase in police mobility during the Men’s Hockey World Cup. At present, the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police has 33 PCR vehicles out of which 11 are not in good condition. Naveen also interacted with people present in seven model police stations. “Model police stations will inspire confidence among public and shall go a long way in making police not only smart but also people friendly,” he said.

The police said that model police station status had been given based on 28 parameters — such as infrastructure, skilled manpower, high rate of conviction, people-friendly approach, effective crime control and quality as well as expeditious investigation.

Director general of police R.P. Sharma said that the concept of model police stations has been started taking into consideration both physical and functional parameters. “These model police stations will act as role models for other police stations in the district. The concept will be extended to other police stations as well,” said Sharma.