PATNA, July 31 -- Bihar Police have decided to bring back the Zonal police system after seven years to strengthen field policing and improve administration, said a senior official of the state home department on Thursday. The new system will be implemented with immediate effect from the date of resolution, i.e. July 29. The system, discontinued in 2019, could return as a major structural reform for better coordination and faster decision-making. Under it, district SPs will be monitored by the DIG of the concerned range while integrated monitoring of the police areas will be done directly from the Zonal IG level. According to the resolution, Patna Zone will encompass the central range DIG, Magadh range DIG and Shahabad range DIG. Similarly, Muzaffarpur Zone will consist of Tirhut range DIG, Champaran region Bettiah and Saran. Under Darbhanga zone, the areas of Mithila range, Koshi range, Saharsa range and Purnia range will be included. Meanwhile, Bhagalpur zone will cover Eastern range Bhagalpur, Munger range and Begusarai range. At present, Bihar is divided into 13 regions, including IG Railways, from the point of view of police action. The IG and DIG office bearers are posted according to the requirement. Range IG posts have been kept in four large and important areas like Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Purnia. Meanwhile, Range DIGs are deployed in the remaining areas like Shahabad, Kosi, Saran, Munger, Begusarai, Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Mithila. Notably, the zone system was introduced in 1982. At present, the state has 13 police ranges headed by DIG rank officers, who were under the command of Zonal IGs who further reported to police headquarters. With the reorganisation of the Zonal system, there will be double monitoring. According to the home department, under the current system, effective monitoring and control of administrative work is not possible at an accelerated pace due to the expansion of scope, increase in population, geographical distance, and limited availability of resources. As a result, officials said, the efficiency required in maintaining the rule of law, crime control, disaster management and other administrative obligations is not being exercised. In such a situation, restructuring the Zonal police system is absolutely necessary for the effective operation of the legal system in the state, strengthening administrative control and providing quick and easy services to the public. "With the reorganisation of the Zonal system, IGs will be able to keep a close watch on the districts of their range. This arrangement will help in making a strategy according to the field. The police administration will work faster and more effectively according to the region, which will gradually improve the law and order maintenance, and people will receive better security and police services," a resolution issued by the home department said....