Home department gets lion's share of budget

Mumbai: Making the highest allocation for Home department, the state announced Rs 13,385 crore in the budget presented on Friday. The state said that the funds will be used for upgradation and modernisation of the police force, installing more CCTV cameras, visitor’s entry management system at police stations and improving the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS).

Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the Police stations will install CCTV cameras for transparent functioning.  “Police stations across the state will have CCTV cameras. All the police stations will be connected to the district control room via the CCTV. The budget has provided Rs 165.92 crore in the state budget,” Mr Mungantiwar said. The Marine police will get two new patrol vessels under the Rs 13,385 crore, he added.  

“To make sure all the complaints made at the police stations are addressed properly, a visitor’s entry management system will be implemented at all police stations. This entry management system will record every complaint filed at the police station, and details pertaining to its response too will be made available to the supervision officer in a timely manner. The provision of Rs 114.99 crore has been included in the overall budget for law and order,” Mr Mungantiwar said.