Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has introduced a comprehensive transfer policy to ensure greater transparency, fairness and efficiency in the transfer of officers under the Odisha Engineering Service (OES) and Odisha Diploma Engineering Service (ODES) cadres functioning under the Works Department.

A key feature of the new policy is the formation of a dedicated ‘Engineering Establishment Committee’ (EEC) to oversee and streamline the transfer process.

As per the new system, the EEC will recommend transfers of senior-level officers, including Chief Engineers, Additional Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Assistant Executive Engineers, to the government.

The Principal Secretary of the department will serve as the Chairperson of the committee, while Engineers-in-Chief of Roads, Rural Development and National Highways will be its members.

Similarly, a separate EEC will be constituted at the level of the Engineer-in-Chief (Roads) office to handle transfers of Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers. This committee will be headed by the Engineer-in-Chief, with Chief Engineers of various wings serving as members.

According to the policy, engineers will generally be transferred after completing three years at a posting. No officer will be allowed to serve in a single revenue district for more than six years.

The policy also stipulates that Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers will not be posted in their home districts. Likewise, Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers of the ODES cadre will not be allowed to work in their home subdivisions.

The new transfer policy has come into effect immediately.