The new Patuli police station, which is a prefabricated structure

One of the new patrol cars that is likely to be deployed along EM Bypass

Calcutta police will almost double their jurisdiction and parts of the city that so long had khaki cops — or none at all on vast stretches — will see men in white from September 1. From a police district covering a mere 100sq km it will be 187sq km large, spread across the entire Calcutta municipal area.

Nine police stations from the southern fringes of the city would be split into 17 police stations under Calcutta police’s command on Thursday. Ten traffic guards are being created to bring order to some of the busiest stretches of Calcutta that had so long remained outside the city police’s ambit.

“Some of the best officers from Calcutta police have been posted as the officers-in-charge, additional officers-in-charge and assistant commissioners in the added areas,” said police commissioner R.K. Pachnanda. What does the change mean for you the Calcuttan?

Metro decodes the switch

● How do I know whether my postal address changes or not?

Calcutta police would publish newspaper advertisements and distribute leaflets locally specifying the new divisions.

● From where do I get the number of my new police station?

The phone numbers of all the 17 police stations would be notified through the ads.

● How do I know about my police station if I stay in a border area, like the fringes of Garfa or Patuli?

Initially, there is likely to be some confusion. Officers would start interacting with the residents under their jurisdiction and conduct loudspeaker campaigns after the police stations change colour.

● So, there will be a change of colour? Do the same khaki police personnel who man the stations now start wearing white from Thursday?

Yes. Their measurements were taken a month ago.

The Bengal police personnel will be on deputation with Calcutta police until recruitments are made.

● How long could this transition take?

About two years.

● Will the change of colour be limited to the uniform?

No. The vehicles of the officers-in-charge and additional officers-in-charge will be painted blue and red, in keeping with the norm at 48 police stations now in Calcutta. The state police wheels have no fixed colour. Officers often use hired vehicles on duty, which may be of any colour. The Calcutta police logo would be painted on the police stations that so long had only ‘WBP’ written on them.

● Are all the 17 police stations ready?

Yes, except for sundry work here and there. The police used prefabricated structures to build the new stations.

● Where did the land come from?

The CMC pitched in.

● How long did it take to get the job done?

Less than four months since chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s announcement on May 25 that there will be one force for the entire city.

● Will the existing Bengal police personnel be enough for as many as 17 police stations covering 87sq km?

No. On an average, each police station in the added areas would get two officers, five sub-inspectors, 50 constables, 10 home guards and five green police volunteers from Calcutta police.

Every police station would also have at least one woman sub-inspector.

● Who will head the police stations?

An officer-in-charge who will be of the rank of an inspector. In Bengal police, the head of a police station is called an inspector-in-charge but the officer may be as low-ranked as an assistant sub-inspector.

The officer-in-charge will be assisted by an additional officer-in-charge.

In five police stations – Kasba, Regent Park, Jadavpur, East Jadavpur and Tiljala – the incumbent inspectors-in-charge are being retained with a promotion.

● Who will the officers-in-charge report to?

To the deputy commissioners of the respective divisions, who will be IPS officers.

Calcutta has six police divisions: North, Central, Port, South, South East and Eastern Suburban Division.

Two more divisions — South West and South Suburban — have been created.

● Which divisions will the 17 new Calcutta police stations come under?

South Suburban, South West and Port.

● Who comes below the deputy commissioners?

A host of officers of the rank of assistant commissioner, who are each responsible for two-three police stations.

● Will I see more traffic police personnel on the roads?

A separate traffic division has been created for the added areas. It would be headed by an IPS officer of the rank of deputy commissioner

10 traffic guards, in addition to the existing 14, have been created for the new areas.

● What are the new traffic guards? Where are they?

■ Thakurpukur: at Thakurpukur CSTC depot

■ Tiljala: at Parama investigation centre

■ East Jadavpur: at Kishore Bharati stadium, Survey Park

■ Kasba: at Kishore Bharati stadium

■ Garia: at Garia outpost

■ Jadavpur: at Jadavpur police station

■ Regent Park: at Tollygunge tram depot

■ Diamond Harbour: near Behala Chowrasta

■ James Long Sarani: near Taratala

■ Metiabruz: at Nadial police station

● Any new restrictions?

One-way traffic, parking regulations, restrictions on slow-moving vehicles, right-turn and u-turn regulations, bar on goods vehicles: from 7am on Thursday.

● What other changes will I see on the road?

Guard rails, road markers and signboards showing speed limits, by 7am on September 1.

● Will patrolling be better?

Should. There would be more personnel and vehicles on the road.

■ 10 radio flying squads and two heavy radio flying squads that are meant for area patrolling have been deployed to cater to the two new divisions.

■ Of the remaining 32 radio flying squads and seven heavy radio flying squads, the ones posted in areas like Kidderpore, SP Mukherjee Road and Sukanta Setu, would be used to patrol adjoining added areas like Metiabruz, Regent Park and Survey Park.

■ The patrol vehicles are armed with wireless sets that can alert the local police station and the Lalbazar control room in case of an emergency.

● What happens to the case that I had registered with my local police station? Does that change too with a shift in the police station?

The complainant doesn’t need to do anything. Once all the new 17 police stations start operating, the OCs of the nine original police stations would sort the pending cases and transfer the case details.

The court would be informed about the development by the police once the case details are transferred.

● Can I expect more prompt police help?

“Calcutta police are with you, always, everywhere,” commissioner Pachnanda told Metro while describing the challenges that lie ahead for the force after September 1.

Do you have any queries about the September 1 switchover? Tell ttmetro@abpmail.com