Police sub-control for Vizag IT employees

Visakhapatnam: A special police sub-control (PSC) will be set up at the Vizag IT hub for the safety of software employees in the wake of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's renewed focus on IT in Vizag.

FIRs are not recorded at the PSC. It just ensures the presence of police there. Usually a head constable, police constable and home guards are kept at the PSC.

Also, the police department has received official representation from the IT Association of Andhra Pradesh (ITAAP) vis-à-vis ensuring safety of IT personnel.

While the city police are allocating forces, IT companies are ready to sponsor the infrastructure required for the PSC.

Currently, about 15,000 employees, including 5,000 female staff from 35-40 IT companies, commute to the area using various modes of transport from different parts of the city.

Although the working hours of female employees are limited from dawn to dusk, men are required to work in shifts through 24 hours.

K. Pranitha, a software employee, said, "I have been working for a software company in Rushikonda for the last five years. I feel tense going to a secluded place to work where I cannot find a police or police watch. Sometimes, I am alone when I take a bike for travel. Now, PSC is coming here. It's good news for us."

Srinu Latchi, a former software employee in Rushikonda, said, "I came from Bengaluru to work here. I was surprised that there was no police security. I quit my job when the Covid19 lockdown started. There is good coordination between police and IT companies in Bangalore. I expect a similar system here too."

ITAAP chairman (Investment Committee) RL Narayana said the PSC was proposed and ready to be set up in 2019, but Covid19-induced lockdowns and Work from Home mode halted its progress.

"About 15,000 staff from 35-40 companies in the IT hub now come to office every day. We recently met the Vizag police, which responded positively. ITAAP is ready to sponsor the infrastructure required for PSC such as container construction, water and electricity supply etc," Narayana told DC.

Vizag city police commissioner Srikanth told Deccan Chronicle, "We are ready to set up the police sub-control to meet the security needs of IT employees and companies. We will assign a team for this."

At a glance

- The IT SEZ in Rushikonda is spread over 150 acres.

- It is located at a distance of 20km from the city.

- 35-40 IT companies are operating there.

- 15000 employees.

- 5000 women employees.

- Police sub-control to be set up.

- No FIR facility at PSCs.

- The sub-control is attached to nearest police station