Bengaluru may get five police commissionerates

Karnataka is planning to divide Bengaluru's policing into five separate commissionerates: Central, North, South, East and West. A new Chief Commissioner of Police would head the structure.Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the overhaul in his Independence Day address on August 15. The state has also created the Greater Bengaluru Authority with five municipal corporations.Home Minister Priyank Kharge has cited the city's rapid growth of about 8.5 per cent, arguing that the current single-commissionerate system is not enough for a city of this scale.The BJP has opposed the move. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged the plan is driven by financial interests and questioned whether splitting the command would improve policing. Former senior officers are divided: some expect closer local policing, while others warn of coordination problems and higher costs, including about 6,000 proposed new posts.No final decision has been taken yet. Kharge has said further stakeholder talks will be held before the plan goes to the Cabinet for approval.
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