The idea of a Police Commissionerate for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack was first conceptualized way back in 1998. Sri M.M.Praharaj, IPS, the-then DIG of Police, Bhubaneswar Range prepared a conceptual design and a Draft Odisha Police Urban Bill which were submitted by the State Police Hdqrs to the Government during May, 1999. After series of discussions in Home Department and vetting by Law Department, the Odisha Urban Police Bill, 2003 was introduced in Odisha Legislative Assembly on 4th April, 2003 and was referred to the Select Committee. A delegation of the Select Committee visited Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi to see the functioning of the Police Commissionerates and after 4 sittings, submitted their report on 21st October, 2003 recommending some changes in the Bill. After a marathon over night session which continued uninterrupted for nearly 16 hours on 10/11.11.03, the Odisha Legislative Assembly passed the Bill which was then sent to His Excellency the Governor of Odisha for assent.The Bill thereafter was sent to Government of India for the assent of His Excellency the President of India. Various information and clarifications sought by the Ministry of Home Affairs were submitted by the State Government. Finally, the Bill received the assent of the President of India on 24.9.07 and became an Act. The Act was notified vide Law Department Notification No.11798-Legis dt.15.10.2007 as Odisha Urban Police Act, 2003 (Odisha Act 8 of 2007) and was published in Extraordinary Odisha Gazette No.1949 dtd.15.10.2007. Vide Notification No.60886/D&A dated 28.12.2007 of Home Department, the State Government established a Police Commissionerate under section 4 of the Odisha Urban Police Act, 2003 for the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and their contiguous areas with effect from 01.01.2008. Sri Binay Kumar Behera, IPS (OR: 1982) was appointed the first Police Commissioner.
