Tourist police to guide visitors in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA, India – Come June, the specially trained tourist police will greet visitors arriving in the hill state.

SHIMLA, India – Come June, the specially trained tourist police will greet visitors arriving in the hill state.

The long-awaited project of the state police is set to become operational with a squad of about 100 police personnel to be deployed at 23 identified strategic locations at key tourist destinations. These will include Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, Narkanda, Chail, Kasauli and Kufri.

Keeping in view the fact that lakhs of pilgrims visit famous temples in Himachal, the tourist police will also be positioned at Jwalaji, Chamunda Devi, Srinaina Devi, Deot Sidh, Chintpurni, Bajjreshwari Devi and other important religious places.

The tourist police will depict a different image of the police and courtesy will be its main trait, DGP Sanjay Kumar said.

The tourist police will perform the multi-purpose functions which include providing comprehensive information, security, safety, guidance and hospitality. Besides ensuring that the language barrier does not hamper the enjoyment of tourists, they save them from being exploited by touts, coolies, taxi operators and unscrupulous hoteliers besides other people in the tourism industry.

Equipped with adequate knowledge about the key tourist destinations, the tourist police will be conversant with the rates of hotels, taxis and porters fixed by the authorities and guide the tourists. It will work in coordination with other departments and also address the complaints regarding fleecing, cheating, overcharging and misbehavior.

โ€œInitially, there will be no change in the dress of the tourist police as we are in the process of selection of uniform and later special uniform with distinguishing mark will be provided to the squadโ€, Kumar added.

Necessary signage, cautions and helpline will be in place at all key locations and points and adequate facilities be developed to provide rescue system for adventure sports and other tourism-related activities in due course, sources in the Police Department said.
The police have already issued guidelines for safety and security of tourists and foreigners, but these are confined only to police website and not displayed at all prominent places, hotels and other tourist locations.

The guidelines advise the tourists to keep the wallet in the inner pockets, leave valuables and important papers, jewellery and passports in secured safe deposit box of the hotel and avoid carrying heavy cash.

Be wary of unexpected persons visiting hotel room, refrain from leaving the luggage or other expensive items unattended at airports, bus stands or taxi stands and always prefer to use pre-paid taxis/auto rickshaws and pay by meter or ask for the fare chart and in case of any theft/loss, immediately contact the nearest police station.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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