The Punjab government has decided to construct sub-jails at Nakodar and Phillaur. In a communication to Jalandhar deputy commissioner, principal secretary home affairs and justice DS Bains said the decision to have sub-jails at tehsil towns all over the state was taken in a meeting held by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. The meeting was held to review the management of prisons in Punjab.

The principal secretary said that one of the major challenges faced by the prison department was overcrowding in jails. He said the Punjab jails were designed to house 18,000 inmates, but currently hold over 25,000 with around 5,000 inmates being added each year.

Bains said that in a meeting held on February 2, it was decided that the new smaller jails be constructed. The communication adds that sub-jails can be built on about 2.5-3 acres of land and can house around 500 undertrials.

Based on this decision, the home department has prepared a list of towns, where sub jails are needed to ease the problem of overcrowding in district/central jails nearby.

The home secretary has asked Jalandhar deputy commissioner Shruti Singh to identify 3 acres for a new sub-jail in  Nakodar and Phillaur towns. The home department has also decided to upgrade jails at Barnala and Phatankot.

New sub jails would be constructed at Abohar, Zira, Jalalabad, Garhshankar, Balachaur,Budhlada, Talwandi Sabo, Rampura Phul, Jagraon, Khanna, Rajpura and Dera Bassi towns of the state.