Police housing at Malad gets Maharashtra govt nod

Mumbai: The government has taken steps to expeditiously resolve the problem of police housing after freeing up an around 80,000 square metre plot in suburban Malad by changing its status from ‘No Development Zone’ to ‘Residential Zone’ to build a new police colony there. About 2,500 police families will be rehabilitated there and an additional 6,000 to 7,000 affordable houses, which would be open to the public, would be constructed as well.

The 80,934 square metre plot would provide additional housing stock for the police personnel who have been demanding better facilities. Police housing was one of the works on the priority list of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, there had been a few hurdles in building them. 

The issue was repeatedly raised on several occasions and the government was under pressure to have the houses built for the police. Mr Fadnavis had announced that 50,000 houses would be built for the police till 2019. In December 2015, the government approved police housing at Ghatkopar and Worli. It approved 64 staff quarters for police constables at Ghatkopar (east) and at Worli, 108 staff quarters for police constables and 28 staff quarters for police officers. 

An official from the urban development department said, “the proposal for police housing was on cards and it was awaiting approval. This will help in creating police housing as well as affordable housing. The reservation of ‘no development zone’ has changed to ‘residential zone’ so that the construction can come up in the space.” 

The state government already sanctioned Rs 298.67 crore in 2015 for police housing. In addition to this, the Police Housing Corporation has been given Rs 500 crore, which will be used for the housing.