Interviewtimes 
Soumendra Priyadarshi, Commissioner, Twin City Police
The veteran 1995-batch IPS officer Soumendra Priyadarshi recently took the mantle of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Twin City Commissionerate Police. Priyadarshi over his long and enviable -service in the police cadre has cemented his credentials as a no-nonsense officer, an upright, wedded to the job cop and a result driven performer. Yet he takes over reins from an eminent predecessor Sudhansu Sarangi who is now posted as the Chairman & Managing Director of Odisha State Police Housing & Welfare Corporation.
Priyadarshi realizes he has big shoes to fill in. He confessed this when he announced that when you have a competent predecessor, it makes your job more challenging, In fact, Priyadarshi extolled the myriad initiatives taken by the ex-Commissioner of Police to transform the face of law and order in the Twin City for the better. But Sarangi’s achievements take no lustre off Priyadarshi’s body of work. Who can forget his role during Nabakalebar spectacle when the whole pilgrim town of Puri got a massive makeover? The colossal event mandated law and order preparations on a grand scale. Priyadarshi has handpicked by Chief Minister for this onerous job. Only he could pull it off.
Now that has taken over the demanding assignment of Commissionerate Police, Priyadarshi has his task cut out. He said that law and order and crime control and investigation will be his top priority.
“I have the confidence that I will be able to discharge my duty with diligence and sincerity for which I seek unstinting cooperation of the denizens of the twin cities,” he said.
“I will try to complete the unfinished tasks of the former CP,” he added.
Priyadarshi started his career as additional SP Puri. Later he had served as SP of Ganjam, Puri, Cuttack and Keonjhar districts. He was the first Deputy Commissioner of Police of Cuttack when the Commissionerate was established in 2008.
Besides, he had served as South Western Range DIG and then as the ADG, Crime Branch, prior to taking charge as the CP.
Priyadarshi carries the immense weight of expectation from the denizens of Twin City. His foresight, vast administrative acumen and gallant mettle will stand in good stead to discharge the bevy of responsibilities.
