Rourkela, July 25: In a pioneering move for Odisha, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela and Rourkela Police District signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to advance technology-driven policing and public service innovation.

This marks the state’s first institutional collaboration between a premier academic institute and a police administration.

The MoU outlines joint efforts in IT solutions, outreach, training, and knowledge exchange, with a focus on enhancing digital policing capabilities.

The partnership builds on the successful launch of the Anusandhan portal in 2024, Odisha’s first online FIR system, developed by NIT Rourkela. Since its rollout, the portal has registered 6,310 FIRs, including from remote areas like Gurundia and Tangarapali, and has empowered over 3,000 citizens to track complaint status in real time.

To further strengthen the initiative, an eight-day Skill Development Programme on digital transformation for police personnel was inaugurated. 200 officers will be trained in data analytics, digital investigation tools, and smart policing practices, setting a benchmark for tech-integrated law enforcement.

Dignitaries present included Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela; DIG Brijesh Kumar Rai; SP Nitesh Wadhwani; and senior faculty members. Speakers emphasized the synergy between academic innovation and police pragmatism, with future plans to integrate AI for predictive policing and intelligent data extraction.

The collaboration aims to create a scalable model for citizen-centric, transparent, and efficient policing, aligning with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ SMART policing vision.

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