Bhubaneswar: Odisha police may soon carve out a new range headquartered at Puri, if a proposal under active consideration by the state govt goes through. The plan envisages bringing the police districts of Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh, currently under the central range, under the jurisdiction of the new unit.“The proposed range will be christened Nilachal range, reflecting Puri’s spiritual identity and its growing national prominence. The government is examining the proposal in detail,” a senior police officer told TOI.Odisha currently has eight ranges — central (Cuttack), eastern (Balasore), western (Rourkela), northern (Sambalpur), southern (Berhampur), south‑western (Koraput), north‑central (Talcher) and railway (Bhubaneswar). Together, they supervise 35 police districts and two railway police districts.The central range is the largest, covering all police stations in seven districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur. Officials admit that managing such a vast jurisdiction has become increasingly challenging for the range DIG/IGP, given rapid urbanisation, population growth and emerging crime trends.“Even though Puri’s crime rate is relatively under control, the government has bigger plans to develop the city into a world‑class tourism hub. A dedicated range will allow sharper focus on law and order, crime prevention and tourist safety,” the officer added.Puri has been at the centre of the govt’s developmental push. The pilgrim city attracts millions annually to the Jagannath temple, its beaches and heritage sites. Work is already underway for an international airport, while Puri municipality was upgraded to a municipal corporation on Dec 31, 2025. In the 2026‑27 budget, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced special allocations to transform Puri into a premier religious tourism destination, including a Rs 1,000‑crore Shree Jagannath Interpretation Centre (SJIC), a Rs 500‑crore international cruise terminal, and a marine aquarium to encourage longer tourist stays.“The proposed Nilachal range will not only ease the administrative burden on the central police range but also ensure faster response to law‑and‑order situations in Puri and adjoining districts. With the airport and cruise terminal coming up, policing needs will multiply. Govt also contemplates to create a commissionerate police system at Puri in future.”