Q: It has been four months since you took over as Kolkata’s Commissioner of Police. What are your priorities?
A: My priorities are security for citizens, a people-friendly police and a disciplined traffic. Everything comes after that.

Q: The state police are now on a revamp mode. How far these initiatives will go?
A: These are just humble beginnings. The traffic signals here were not operative at night. One-third of accidents occur at night and the situation is chaotic at major crossings, to say the least. So we have initiated the automatic signalling system and manned them at 54 crossings. Now, 106 posts are manned at night. After the new regulations, more than 500 cases of traffic signal violations are being recorded every night. We are going to submit a full-fledged proposal of the night traffic system to the state.

Q: Are you satisfied with the enforcement of traffic rules in the city?
A: No. But we are working with various departments and agencies to streamline the system. We have also designed the traffic system near South City, which the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority is taking up.

Q: What about earmarking separate officers at police stations for investigations and law and order duties?
A: The system is in place at 10 police stations as of now. This was necessary to conduct proper investigation.

Q: What about modernisation of the police force?
A: There is a lot happening on that front also with a special surveillance system, new equipment and special traffic systems. We will undertake GIS mapping and the automatic vehicle tracking system shortly. Recently, the home ministry has accepted our modernisation proposal.