Nod for building at police headquarters

Two years after it was proposed, the home department has approved plans to build an annex building at the Mumbai police headquarters. It, however, rejected plans to make the structure nuclear and biological proof.

Two years after it was proposed, the home department has approved plans to build an annex building at the Mumbai police headquarters. It, however, rejected plans to make the structure nuclear and biological proof.

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The structure has been proposed because it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the old buildings, which house the headquarters at present, and provide space to more than 2,000 men and officials.

State home department sources said on Sunday that following a nod from the home ministry, the Maharashtra Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (MPHWC) finalised the tender for the construction of the annex building last week.

TS Bahl, special inspector general of police, MPHWC confirmed that the tender had been cleared. “The new building will be constructed at a projected cost of Rs32-36 crore, depending on market conditions,” Bhal said. Sources said the annex building would come up at the Mumbai police commissionerate compound at Crawford Market in 18 months. It will be a tilt plus six-storeyed structure and will house almost all branches, which are presently housed in the twin colonial structures at the commissionerate.

Police sources said the foundation stone for the building is likely to be laid in a week’s time. Several key offices such as two units of the crime branch (including the intelligence wing), the police notice section, immigration wing, the special operation squad and the anti-extortion cell are presently housed in asbestos barracks.

The main police control room is being built at Byculla.