Pune: In a significant internal reshuffle, the Pune City Traffic Department has transferred 30 Duty Officers (DOs) in one swift move. The decision was implemented late on Tuesday, May 20, under the directive of Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil. All affected officers were previously serving as DOs in various traffic divisions and have now been temporarily reassigned to the Bund Garden and Lashkar divisions.
The abrupt transfers have stirred discussion within the department and among civic observers, with many viewing it as a strategic step to clamp down on growing concerns over favoritism and irregularities in duty assignments.
Sources within the department revealed that even those who had taken up DO responsibilities just two to three months ago were not exempt from the transfers. This has reportedly led to reluctance among some officers to take up the DO role, given its growing scrutiny.
Pune has a total of 30 traffic divisions, each with a designated Duty Officer. DOs are tasked with crucial responsibilities including administrative management, allocation of duties, planning for security arrangements (bandobast), handling case files, and official correspondence. Due to the critical nature of these responsibilities, the DO position is often seen as prestigious and desirable within the department.
However, reports had surfaced alleging that some officers-in-charge were appointing DOs based on personal preferences rather than merit. Further allegations included biased task allocation—wherein select officers were routinely assigned easier or more favorable duties, while others faced neglect or discrimination. Additionally, there were complaints regarding manipulation of duty rosters and work permits.
According to senior officials, these grievances were brought to the attention of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, who subsequently took them seriously. The recent mass transfer of DOs is seen as a direct response to these issues, aimed at restoring transparency, accountability, and fairness within the traffic department.
The department has not issued an official statement on whether the transferred officers will be reassigned permanently or if further administrative changes are expected. However, insiders indicate that this is only the beginning of a broader effort to restructure and reform internal operations across Pune’s traffic enforcement units.
