PUNE: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has decided to allot 50 acres of land for a new jail at Dehu Road area. This is expected to reduce burden on the Yerwada Central Prison, which has capacity for 2,449 inmates, but currently houses 5,937 inmates.
The Prison Department, also called as Correctional Services Department of the State Government, wrote to the Pune district administration for building a new jail in Pimpri-Chinchwad to reduce pressure on Yerwada Jail. The jail in Yerwada was built in 1872 and then it was located out of Pune city. Over the years, the population of undertrials and convicts has increased manifold but the jail’s capacity has not increased.
According to officials, the new central jail will be built in Dehu Road area on 50 acres land to be handed over by the PMRDA. The jail will have capacity for 3,000 inmates.
The officials are looking for new jail facility as the Bombay High Court has issued directions to the State Government to find out new land at Mumbai and Pune to construct new jails for undertrial prisoners.
