THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, August 12: In a step towards enhancing security and promoting tourism in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district, Kolhan Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manoj Ratan Chothe, IPS, launched the Hotel Guest Verification System and introduced the Tourism Nodal Police Officer at a program organized at Hotel Cruze, Adityapur.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Jamshedpur Hotel and Restaurant Association (JHRA) and the Seraikela District Police, is set to revolutionize law enforcement and tourism management in the district.
Speaking at the event, DIG Manoj Ratan Chothe elaborated on the numerous benefits the Hotel Guest Verification System will bring to policing and crime management in the district. He emphasized that the system would significantly streamline the process of monitoring hotel guests, making it easier to track and manage criminal activities. The DIG also suggested that the National Informatics Center (NIC) introduce a thumb-based check-in facility in the future to further bolster security measures.
The introduction of a dedicated Tourism Nodal Police Officer, according to DIG Chothe, will have long-term benefits for the district’s economy and employment. He highlighted that the establishment of a dedicated Tourist Police Thana, similar to those already operational in states like Kerala and Kashmir, would be the next step forward.
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Guest of Honour, Mukesh Kumar Lunayat, IPS, shared his experiences with the benefits of the Verification System during his tenure as City SP in Jamshedpur. He noted that the system had greatly facilitated real-time monitoring of hotel guests and contributed to improved public safety.
Lunayat also announced that the system would be fully implemented across the entire district within the next seven days. He emphasized that Seraikela, being the first district in Jharkhand to start Tourism Police, would provide 24/7 support to tourists through the 112 helpline or the dedicated Tourist Police.
The JHRA had initially approached the Jamshedpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to streamline the cumbersome and inefficient police verification process for hotel guests. The existing system posed significant challenges for law enforcement in monitoring criminal activities. In response, the State National Informatics Center (NIC) Jharkhand, led by Joint Director Kishor, developed a cutting-edge software solution.
Kishor noted that Jamshedpur was the first district in the country to implement such a Verification System, which has dramatically eased the process of guest data collection in real-time, benefiting both hoteliers and the police. He assured that NIC would continue to upgrade the software to meet evolving needs.
Prashant Sinha, Deputy Director of NIC and the key architect behind the software, emphasized the importance of secure data management. He added that NIC is working towards integrating Aadhar authentication to prevent fraud cases, further enhancing the system’s reliability.
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In his welcome speech, JHRA President Ravish Ranjan recounted the association’s journey from initially approaching the SSP Jamshedpur for support following a robbery case at Bistupur Bank in 2022 to the eventual development of the web-based guest verification system.
JHRA Secretary Randeep Singh, who delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledged the joint efforts of the JHRA and Seraikela District Police in achieving this milestone. He expressed confidence that this initiative would set a new standard for law enforcement in Jharkhand.
The event was attended by senior police officials, including all the Dy SPs, Thana Incharges, Police Computer Operators, as well as prominent hoteliers and senior NIC officials. Among the notable attendees were Saroj Kumar Rajan, Dy. Director (IT) NIC Ranchi, and Rituraj Priyadarshi, DIO Seraikela Kharsawan, along with Gaurav Agarwal, JHRA Treasurer.
