‘New quarters soon’

Vijay Singh Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (HQ 1) spoke to Hindustan Times on the problems policemen are facing with respect to small and unhygienic police quarters and on the police department’s plans for constructing new, bigger houses for its men.

Vijay Singh Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (HQ 1) spoke to Hindustan Times on the problems policemen are facing with respect to small and unhygienic police quarters and on the police department’s plans for constructing new, bigger houses for its men.

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Is it true that policemen are opting out of staying in police quarters and that a large number of quarters are lying vacant?

Yes, the quarters are 180 sq ft in area as the specifications of houses for constables is very old. The new houses that are coming up at various locations will be bigger in size. Constables will get 1BHK, with a carpet area of 366 sq ft. Head constables and assistant sub inspectors will get houses measuring 473 sq ft. The old houses are small and these constables cannot adjust in them with their families.

Where are these quarters coming up?

The Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Limited is constructing 261 quarters at Ghatkopar. Total 500 houses have been planned there. It also has plans to build houses in Mahim (500), Worli (400), Santacruz (224), Wadibunder (160) and also at Kole Kalyan. The Public Works Department will also be constructing some houses for us.

The construction of new quarters and repairs of old is an ongoing process. It is done as and when required. It also depends on availability of funds.

Some of the police lines have pathetic sanitation condition.

That is true as the police lines like that at Byculla are very old and despite several repairs, the sanitation worries remain. We are trying to take care of that problem.