Tirupati Police Commissionerate gets state Cabinet nod

Tirupati: Rapid urban expansion, growing pilgrim movement and the emergence of major industrial and educational centres have increased policing requirements in Tirupati district, prompting the government to propose a Police Commissionerate. The State cabinet approved the proposal on Thursday.

The new system will bring the entire district under a four-zone policing structure covering Tirumala, Tirupati, Srikalahasti and Sri City, with each zone headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). The proposed commissionerate will be headed by an Inspector General (IG) or Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer as the Commissioner. The existing SP-led district police administration will be replaced by the new system, under which police sub-divisions will be reorganised into zones and ACPs will head the sub-divisions.

Tirumala zone will have one sub-division and three police stations covering Tirumala I Town, II Town and Traffic police stations. Tirupati zone will have two sub-divisions Tirupati and Chandragiri and 11 police stations. Srikalahasti zone will also have two sub-divisions – Srikalahasti and Renigunta with14 police stations. Sri City zone will have two sub-divisions – Sri City and Puttur with 21 police stations.

A separate coordination wing headed by an SP-rank officer functioning as DCP is also proposed. It will coordinate specialised units such as Tirupati and Tirumala Central Crime Stations, Traffic Police, Women Police Station, City Armed Reserve, Control Room, Crime and Traffic Record Bureaus, IT Core, Command Control Centre, Clues Team and Fingerprint Bureau.

The need for a new policing structure is being linked to the rapid growth of Tirupati city and other towns in the district. Tirupati’s status as a major pilgrimage centre has also increased the need for effective management of pilgrim movement and security. Srikalahasti has emerged as an important religious, industrial and educational centre, while Sri City and surrounding areas have witnessed considerable industrial activity. Sullurupeta is also home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

The expansion of towns and population has brought additional challenges, including cybercrime, crimes against women, traffic congestion and road accidents. Tirupati recorded 9,411 FIRs in 2024 and 10,094 in 2025, while 5,123 cases have been registered so far in 2026.

Tirupati’s police administration has undergone several changes. The then government mooted the idea of creating Tirupati Urban Police District in 2008 following which it was formed in 2010 and became fully operational in 2016. It was abolished after Tirupati district was formed in April 2022, when the regular SP-led district police system was introduced.

With the proposed commissionerate, the Commissioner will have executive magistrate powers in law and order matters. This will enable the police administration to take certain preventive and regulatory measures directly as permitted under law. The existing designations of SP, Additional SP and DSP will also give way to Commissioner, DCP and ACP designations under the new system.

With the State Cabinet giving its nod to the Tirupati Police Commissionerate on Wednesday, the remaining formalities are expected to be completed soon, paving the way for its formation in the next few days.

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Pradeep Vennelakanti & Vani Mallela