The Telangana Police Department is rationalising its manpower to meet changing crime and public safety challenges, with 513 personnel from specialised units being redeployed to areas, including traffic management, drug control, vigilance and cybercrime, DGP C.V. Anand said on Wednesday.

The largest allocation of 224 personnel has been made to Traffic Management and Road Safety, followed by 80 to Food Adulteration and Drug Control and 79 to Vigilance and Enforcement. Another 28 personnel will be posted to Civil Supplies, 27 to DGP Office–T-SPARK, and 25 each to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Crime Investigation Department and Cyber Security Bureau.

The redeployed personnel comprise five Inspectors, 22 Sub-Inspectors, 14 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 84 Head Constables and 388 Constables. They were attached to the respective departments for two months before final allocation. Their educational backgrounds were assessed, interviews conducted and an 11-day specialised training programme held at the Telangana Police Academy.

DGP Anand said policing had evolved from tackling Left-Wing Extremism and terrorism to dealing with drug trafficking, cybercrime, online betting, investment fraud, traffic management, road safety and food adulteration. Greyhounds, OCTOPUS and SIB personnel were being given new responsibilities based on current requirements.

He said the growing use of drugs among young people was a serious concern, citing police findings of drug traces among 835 students last year. Telangana also suffered losses of around ₹1,750 crore to cybercrime last year, he said.

Road safety has been given the highest priority in the restructuring, with around 8,000 people reportedly killed in road accidents in Telangana last year. The additional personnel will strengthen enforcement and accident-prevention measures, with police working with engineering and other departments to identify and address accident-prone locations.

The officer concluded that Greyhounds and OCTOPUS had been left with sufficient strength for field operations, maintenance and training, and their deployment would be reviewed after three months. He urged the redeployed personnel to remain fit, disciplined and professional in their new roles.