Tourism police, a saga of failed attempts in two decades

Launched for at least four times in the past two decades, the ambitious project of tourism police in the holy city that witnesses thousands of tourists from India and across the globe on a daily basis is a victim of utter neglect, thanks to the apathy of the Punjab Government and the authorities concerned.

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Last time, the tourism police project was launched in 2019 wherein around 70 cops were given special training of soft skills to deal with tourists in need of help. Nevertheless, it soon vanished after several months of its launch reportedly due to the absence of requisite funds from the government.

While launching the project, it had established tourism police booths at various points, including religious places, such as near the Golden Temple, Dr Kitchlew Chowk, popularly known as Kechahari Chowk, where these cops were supposed to be stationed. However, these booths are lying closed now. The cost of the project was around Rs 8-10 crore.

Apart from creating booths, the tourism police would have separate uniform with an insignia of tourism police. A cop, who was part of the project at that time, pointed out that in absence funds from the government, the project was soon shelved several months after its launch in 2019.

It is evident to mention here that tourists are the ones who are the prime targets of snatchers on city roads. After losing their belongings, they did not know which authorities to approach.

With Amritsar being one of the most visited places by the tourists in the country, the need of tourism police was felt from time to time.

Initially, it was launched with much fanfare during the tenure of then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in 2002-2003. During the tenure of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, it was re-launched in 2008-2009. It was again launched by the Amritsar city police commissionerate in 2014 following the international norms. At that time, selected cops also underwent training to communicate with tourists in English as well as in Hindi. The tourism wing of the police was once again inaugurated by then Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh on October 31, 2019. In 2023 also, the municipal corporation (MC) had announced to float a tender for the tourism police, but it has yet to see the light of day.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a new proposal has been sent to the Punjab Government through the DGP’s office and hope to get a response soon from the government in this regard.