New jail construction work in sight near Mudipu
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Feb 12, 2019: Works on the construction of a modernized jail near Mudipu, within the limits of Ira-Chelur –Karnad village panchayat in Bantwal taluk is set to start soon finally realising the dream of relocating the jail in the city to its outskirts.
A compound wall was already in place by the PWD around the 67.87 acre land reserved in Chelur for the construction of the jail making secure the land. Recently, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order-ADGP) N S Megharikh visited the location, conducted inspection and directed to start the construction soon.
The then DGP (Prisons) H N Satyanarayana had announced during his visit to the district jail at Kodialbail on May 3rd 2017, that a fully equipped, modern and model jail would be constructed in the city at the cost of Rs 200 crore. He had also informed that Rs 7.5 crore has been set aside for this in the 2017 state budget. Then, in the span of two years, a compound wall was constructed around the site to make sure the reserved land did not fall into someone else hands.
The new jail plan has been created in accordance to the all India prisons guideline. The proposed prison will initially have an inmate capacity of 1,000. Eventually, there is an aim to extend the limit to 1,400 inmates.
For maximum security barbed wire and nails on door will be used. The prison will also have a hospital, library, helipad, separate work area for inmates to work, enough staff will be appointed and the staff will be provided with accommodation and video conferencing facilities.
The prisons department has calculated that the two years ago estimate of Rs 200 crore may now increase to Rs 250 crore or 280 crore. Capacity 210; existing inmates 362
The jail at Kodialbail is filled above capacity. The capacity of the jail is 210 inmates. However, currently there are 351 male, 7 female and 4 children (1 girl and 3 boys), altogether 362 under trial inmates at the prison. Of them, almost 50 inmates are at the old jail and the remaining are at the new jail. Two years back, the inmate numbers at the jail reached to 489 once. Besides, there are a few inmates who have been transferred to other jails for protection and security reasons.
New Construction :The aim is to construct the prison building in 3 phases within a span of 3-4 years. The tender for the first phase of the work at the cost Rs 110 crore has been prepared and has been sent for administrative approval. The tender is expected to receive administrative approval soon.