Revenue dept agrees to allot plot for a jail at Mankhurd

ALTERNATIVE LAND AT DEONAR

MUMBAI: The revenue department has given its nod to allot a 54-acre plot at Mankhurd to build a central jail.

The urban development department wanted a portion of the plot for Metro-2 car depot.

During a recent meeting of top revenue officials, the home department was told that a portion of the land can be allotted for the jail.

As the car depot was the government’s priority, the home department was apprehensive about getting the Mankhurd plot.

However, a recent recce of the plot showed that the plot was big enough to accommodate both the jail and the depot.

“We have been told by the revenue department, which owns the plot, both the jail and Metro car depot can be allowed on the same plot provided they have entrances at opposite directions. The revenue department has also given us an alternative plot for the jail near Deonar dumping ground,” said an official from the home department.

The plot had also been identified The state-owned plot at Mankhurd will be allotted for a jail as the revenue department has accepted the home department’s proposal

for a memorial for the late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

“With Shivaji Park being finalised for the memorial, all hurdles have now been cleared for the jail. The allocation is expected to be finalised soon,” the official said.

The new jail will lessen the burden on Arthur Road jail, which is overcrowded.

The Arthur Road jail houses more than 2,500 inmates against the capacity of 800 and is the most crowded jail in the state. As the jail manual makes it mandatory to have at least one jail for undertrials and cannot be shifted outside the district, the new jail will lodge additional inmates of the Mumbai jail.

However, some officials in the home department said that they may plan to shift the Arthur Road jail to pave way for the real estate projects which have been stuck because of height restrictions.