Residing in a plush house will no longer be a dream for the Mumbai police constabulary, which has been living in abysmal conditions so far.
Speaking to DNA, Mumbai police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said, “We have plans to improve our Police Line complexes. New buildings will be constructed with each flat having an area of 480 sq ft, comprising of a hall, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a balcony. The area will increase as per the rank of the official. The maintenance cost will be borne by the government.”
Elaborating on the housing plans, another senior police officer said, “We have 25-odd Police Lines in the city and have plans to construct new ones near the old. While fresh recruits will be given the old accommodation, those who have served for long will be entitled to the new.”
He added that funds for the project would come from the maintenance fund, police welfare fund (routed through the police housing corporation), and the modernisation project. The state government was also willing to spend money, he said.
The Ghatkopar Police Line has already been constructed with 228 flats, housing over 1,200 people. There are four wings of ground-plus-four structures.
A senior police officer admitted that housing has, for long, been a problem for the police constabulary. “Our constables have been living in pathetic and abysmal conditions,” he said. “Each house is merely a room with an area of 180 sq ft including the kitchen and the bathroom. Constables were unhappy with this and preferred to stay in their own flats in distant places like Kalyan, Ambernath and Karjat. This affected their health and work a great deal.”
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