Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In an effort to improve enforcement and road safety procedures in the state, the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved the creation of a new cadre rule, “The Odisha Transport-Traffic and Enforcement (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2026,” which will replace the current 2013 regulations and any subsequent amendments. The new regulations will replace “The Odisha Transport-Traffic and Enforcement (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2013” and include provisions for newly created positions within the Transport-Traffic Enforcement cadre under the Commerce & Transport Department, as well as all previous amendments.
The cadre included positions like Traffic Constable, Assistant Sub-Inspector (Traffic), Sub-Inspector (Traffic), Inspector (Traffic), and Deputy Superintendent (Traffic) in the 2013 framework. Recruitment practices and service conditions were changed by later modifications. A 2013 amendment transferred direct hiring for the position of traffic constable from the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission to the Odisha Uniformed Services Staff Selection Commission.
In 2021, more modifications were made, such as updated physical exam requirements for direct hiring. The bicycle skill test was eliminated, and the running test was standardized at 1.6 km in 8 minutes for men and 10 minutes for women. The Principal Secretary/Secretary of the Commerce & Transport Department was appointed Chairperson of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC), and the Transport Commissioner was added as a member for promotions to the positions of Deputy Superintendent (Traffic) and Sub-Inspector (Traffic).
In a bid to enhance enforcement and road safety activities, the state government had earlier approved restructuring within the cadre by abolishing 26 posts of Assistant Sub-Inspector (Traffic) and creating new positions. These include one post of Joint Commissioner Transport (Enforcement) in Level-14, three posts of Deputy Commissioner Transport (Enforcement) in Level-13, two posts of Deputy Superintendent (Traffic) in Level-12, and five posts of Sub-Inspector (Traffic) in Level-9 of the pay matrix.
