За 50 лет полиция Хайдарабада прошла путь от одного комиссариата до высокотехнологичной мегаполис-системы

The evolution of policing in Hyderabad over the past fifty years is a story of profound structural, technological and cultural transformation, balancing hard-nosed security enforcement with progressive, citizen-centric policing. Fifty years ago, Hyderabad was a relatively small and compact city served by a single Police Commissionerate responsible for law and order and public safety. The transformation was driven by the challenges of the times. The late 1970s and 1980s witnessed waves of communal violence and prolonged curfews, with heavy loss of life and property. In response, additional law-and-order zones and police stations were created, with increased manpower and a sharper command structure. The late 1980s, 1990s and 2000s brought the challenge of left-wing extremism, prompting the creation of the Special Intelligence Branch and the elite commando force, Greyhounds. Terror strikes in the 2000s led to additional manpower being sanctioned and the formation of the Counter-Intelligence Cell and the commando unit OCTOPUS (Organization for Counter Terrorist Operations). Each challenge made the force larger, more specialised and increasingly intelligence-driven. The global IT boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s reshaped Hyderabad’s ambitions. As the city emerged as a destination for high-technology companies and global investment, public safety became central to its economic growth. The Cyberabad Commissionerate was created, ushering in a multi-Commissionerate model for a rapidly expanding urban conglomeration. The new international airport and Outer Ring Road further extended the city’s reach, leading to rapid urbanisation in surrounding areas. Following the formation of Telangana in 2014, the Rachakonda Commissionerate was established to strengthen policing across the eastern and north-eastern stretches of the metropolitan region. More recently, following the expansion and reorganisation of the GHMC and the integration of several urban local bodies, the three-Commissionerate arrangement has been overhauled into four distinct Commissionerates — Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Malkajigiri and Future City. Recognising that global investments flow towards cities with dependable law and order and a strong sense of safety, a comprehensive modernisation programme was undertaken. Additional manpower was sanctioned and recruited; mobility, infrastructure and technology were upgraded; personnel were upskilled for contemporary megacity policing; and citizen-centricity, empathy, accessibility and 24/7 availability were emphasised through process-driven, technology-enabled monitoring and citizen feedback systems supported by a third-party call centre. Police stations were rebuilt as clean, modern and citizen-friendly spaces. An exclusive State-level women’s safety wing was created, supported by SHE Teams and Bharosa Centres. A centralised, technology-enabled Emergency Response Management System (ERMS) was instituted, bringing the average response time to under five minutes while enhancing transparency and accountability. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) was created to combat evolving cybercrime, while the Telangana Narcotics Bureau (TGNAB) was established to tackle drug trafficking. A multi-agency Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) was established as a technology-fusion hub, bringing public safety agencies onto one platform for seamless coordination during emergencies. With government initiative and community participation, several lakh CCTV cameras were installed across streets and public spaces, enhancing safety for residents, commuters, the workforce and businesses. As the vehicle population soared, manual traffic regulation gave way to an Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), incorporating adaptive traffic controls, automated violation detection, automatic number-plate recognition, incident and accident detection, real-time monitoring, vehicle counting and classification, and emergency-vehicle prioritisation. Cashless, contactless and evidence-based enforcement through e-challans reduced confrontational roadside stops and strengthened public trust. From a single Commissionerate operating out of the Nizam-era outposts to four Commissionerates supported by specialised units, technology networks and fusion centres, Hyderabad policing has transformed beyond recognition. Yet, the mandate remains unchanged: keeping the peace and protecting a city that has never stopped growing. M. Mahendar Reddy (The writer retired as DGP of Telangana) Published - September 04, 2026 01:33 pm IST