Bhubaneswar: The appointment of retired police personnel for highway patrolling in the state that was put on hold for COVID-19 pandemic is scheduled to resume next month.
In January, the government had approved engagement of 119 retired police personnel in the ranks of sub-inspector, sergeant and deputy subedar as special police officers (SPOs) for patrolling the highway stretches on the routes of Bhubaneswar-Puri, Sambalpur-Sohela, Manguli-Sambalpur, Jaleswar-Ichchapuramand Sambalpur-Rourkela.
The state police headquarters was scheduled to launch the selection process on March 23 but postponed it due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown.
According to sources, the last date of submission of application by retired police and ex-defence personnel is October 8, while medical test, physical fitness test and personal interview will be held on October 15 as per the revised process.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court committee on road safety had last year asked the state government to introduce highway patrolling in the accident-prone stretches.
