The Barrackpore police commissionerate has proposed to restructure its existing policing units by forming eight new police stations and appointing as many new assistant commissioners.

“Police commissioner Manoj Verma sent a proposal to state home department in this regard and has claimed these measures are necessary for effective policing here,” said an official.

Sources in Nabanna said the state government “on principle” had accepted the proposal, and expected a formal announcement soon on them because the crime graph in the industrial zone had in recent times had “become an embarrassment”.

Formed in January 2012, Barrackpore commissionerate at present has 17 police stations under its jurisdiction spanning 269.5sqkm. Once the new police stations get the nod from Nabanna, the commissionerate will have 25 in all.

According to the proposal made by police commissioner Verma, the police stations would come up at Halisahar, Jethia, Sibdaspur, Basudebpur, Mohanpur, Kamarhati, Dakshineswar and Nagerbazar.

The police stations will all come up close to the Kalyani expressway owing to criminal activities and accidents in the area, an official said.

Sources in the Barrackpore commissionerate explained that a major part of the jurisdiction, particularly the industrial belt from Naihati to Ichhapur, had become a source of serious concern for the administration amid increasing criminal activities.

“The objective behind sending a proposal for these new police stations is to quell criminal activities in the area and change its dubious reputation as a crime zone that it has earned. This image needs to change so that citizens can once again repose their faith in the police”, a senior commissionerate official said.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week at the launch of the Puja guide, police commissioner Verma said, “Our aim is to ensure better service to people and to build up their confidence. In this endeavour, we have proposed to constitute the new police stations, which we expect will materialise soon.”

According to the proposal, the jurisdiction under Bijpur police station will be restructured into two new police stations at Halisahar and Jethia in addition to retaining Bijpur police station in its present form. Sources said Naihati police station would be restructured, resulting in one new police station at Sibdaspur.

“The jurisdictions of Bhatpara and Jagaddal police stations will also be restructured for a new police station in Basudevpur,” said a source.

Titagarh police station will be restructured to form a new police station in Mohanpur area. Belgharia police station will be restructured into two more police stations in Kamarhati and Daskhineswar, where population growth has been notable along with increasing footfall at the Dakshineswar temple after the extension of the Metro service.

“Increasing traffic and population in Dum Dum has also compelled police authorities to set up a new police station in Nagerbazar, restructuring the jurisdiction of the existing police station,” said an official.

The commissioner has also stated that in order to ensure law and order during Puja week, 15 naka checking points had been set up.