The Maharashtra government on Friday announced the formation of a high-level committee to assess the ambitious Mumbai Police Housing Township Project, aimed at providing homes for over 45,000 police personnel across the city, news agency PTI reported.
Under the proposed plan, residential quarters will be developed on 75 designated plots in Mumbai to accommodate 40,000 constables, 5,000 sub-inspectors and inspectors, and other senior officers.
The state Home Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) to constitute a 15-member committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Iqbal Singh Chahal, to study the feasibility of the project and submit its recommendations, PTI reported.
The initiative is a step towards addressing long-standing housing concerns within the Mumbai Police force.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Chief Secretary Ashwini Bhide will be part of the committee along with senior officers from the PWD, Housing, Finance, and Planning departments, Managing Director of Police Housing Corporation, and District Collectors of the city and suburbs, and others, reported PTI.
The shortage of affordable houses in the city for police, especially the constabulary, has long been an intractable problem. Mumbai Police, which came into existence in 1856 during the British era, is one of the country`s oldest and most esteemed police forces.
It has the responsibility of maintaining law and order in India`s financial capital, whose current population exceeds 1.3 crore.
At present, the strength of the Mumbai Police is 51,308. The force operates through 94 police stations, five local arms divisions and several other specialised branches.
But there are only 19,762 residential quarters available for police personnel, all of which are occupied. Of these, 16,958 quarters measure between just 100 and 300 square feet and are located in old British-era buildings, officials said.
Almost half the police personnel travel between 80 to 100 km daily from as far as Karjat, Kasara, Raigad and Palghar to reach their workplace, they said, adding that the long commute affects punctuality as well as morale.
Police commissioner Deven Bharti had recently said efforts were on to ensure that constable-level personnel get 500 sq ft houses on joining service.
(With PTI inputs)
