The Odisha Police has initiated the process of preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the upcoming Odisha Cyber Command Centre (O3C) in Bhubaneswar, a specialised hub recently announced by the state government to bolster its cybersecurity framework.
The proposed O3C is envisioned as the state’s centralised cyber facility, integrating three core components. According to reports by The Times of India, this unit will serve as the cybercrime investigation headquarters, a state-level cybercrime police station, and a cyber resource centre.
To move the project forward, authorities have invited applications from IT consultancy firms to prepare the DPR for both the O3C and 20 new cyber police stations across Odisha.
Expansion of Cyber Policing Network
Currently, Odisha has 14 cyber police stations. With the sanction of 20 additional units focusing on cybercrime and economic offences, the state aims to significantly expand its reach in handling technology-driven crimes.
The cyber command centre in Bhubaneswar is expected to play a pivotal role in coordinating investigations and ensuring timely assistance to victims.
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Focus on Training and Preparedness
Parallel to infrastructure development, the police department has launched capacity-building programmes for its personnel. Training in cybercrime investigation and cyber intelligence has already begun at the state level, with plans to extend similar programmes to districts.
The initiative seeks to equip officers across ranks with the skills required to combat increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals.
The decision comes against the backdrop of a sharp rise in digital crimes such as financial fraud, phishing scams, data breaches, and identity theft, including several instances of ‘digital arrests’ targeting senior citizens.