Maharashtra may get 60 new police stations, 7 in MMR

The Maharashtra home department has proposed 60 new police stations in the state because of the growing population and the need to control crimes. Seven of them may be in the Mumbai Mteroploitan Region (MMR).

The Maharashtra home department has proposed 60 new police stations in the state because of the growing population and the need to control crimes. Seven of them may be in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Navi Mumbai will have three police stations at Juinagar, Airoli and Ulve. They will also be set up at Dapode in Bhiwandi (Thane), Achole in Nalasopara and Mandavi in Virar (both in Palghar district).

The home department is considering setting up a police station at Diva as a special case, considering the recent law and order problems in the area.

A few weeks ago, the department had issued a notification to set up 63 police stations in the state. After the finance department’s approval, work on demarcating borders, construction of buildings and appointment of personnel have started. Some have also started functioning.

“The remaining approvals will come in four phases of 15 police stations each. Seven of these are for the MMR and the rest for across the state,” said a department official.

T he proposal f or a new police station is based on rising population, urbanisation and registration of more than 150 cases of serious crimes in a year. “Based on this, the superintendent of police or an assistant commissioner sends reports for more police stations to the director general of police, who forwards it to the government after verification. We have passed the proposal and have sent it to the finance department for approval,” said another officer.

The official said the department was seriously considering setting up police stations at Diva in Thane district and Biltarodi in Nagpur as a special case although there was no official proposal.

The police station at Diva will be formed by dividing the area under the Mumbra police station jurisdiction. However, the department is doubtful about sanction from the finance department as it has recently announced its decision of freezing creation of new posts.

According to the department officials, each new police station needs around 23 to 30 new police personnel and officers of various ranks with a fixed expenditure of Rs 40 lakh and a recurring expenditure of Rs10 lakh a month. The additional financial burden may pose hurdles for the proposal’s approval.